Sick Puppies Unveiled Their Video For "Odd One"

Australian alternative rock band, Sick Puppies have debuted a full music video for their new single "Odd One," the second release off the alternative rock group’s third full-length album "Tri-Polar," last Wednesday, January 20 on MTV2 and MTVU websites via Virgin Records.
The trio rockers band was formed in 1997, consists of vocalist and guitarist Shimon Moore, bassist Emma Anzai and drummer Mark Goodwin. With a name like Sick Puppies, you wouldn't think hugs would play a major role in the gutsy indie crew's rise to fame, but they do, along with malls and the video-sharing site YouTube. They bring some more thunder from down under with their latest video for "Odd One," which was filmed at a local skate park in Los Angeles and features a teenage girl who destroys everything she touches.
Even if you don't know Sydney, Australia modern rock trio Sick Puppies, you've probably seen their groundbreaking "Free Hugs," video, which has garnered more than 26 million views on YouTube.com since it started streaming on the site last year. The heartwarming clip chronicles the true life adventures of a man who walks around holding a billboard that reads "Free Hugs," the police who ban his humanitarian crusade, and the petition that earned him back the right to provide hugs to citizens in need. The band's North American debut, "Dressed Up As Life," validates the praise with a heartfelt collection of exultant rhythms, propulsive beats and choruses that span miles. It's the kind of record that captures the beauty, pain and endless possibilities of life.
Sick Puppies have been classified as Nu Metal in their early days but are now classified as an Alternative metal and Post-Grunge band. The trio will be opening for Nickelback, Breaking Benjamin and Shinedown on their upcoming North American tour extensively through the first half of this year.

Kimberley Locke's Hot Dance Hit "Change"

Adult contemporary pop/R&B singer and American Idol season 2 third placer, Kimberly Locke was exclusively world premiered a music video for her the No.1 Billboard dance hit and the roll out single "Change" from her sophomore album, "Based on a True Story" on Americanidol.com in 2007. The Tennessee native Locke, with the assistance of Ty Lacy & Dennis Matkosky, wrote the song about the crossroads she reached when deciding whether or not to call off her engagement in 2005.
Wisely, the single focuses on that core, albeit with enough of a contemporary edge to indulge her youthful profile and perhaps drum up like support at adult top 40. "Change" rocks harder than the pop imprint of debut top 40 hit "8th World Wonder" and a bit less than the brusque, more urban "Wrong," mediating middle ground for a song that could make the grade across several formats. At this point, pop radio appears hesitant to embrace most Idols, so this persuasive effort is tailor-made to deliver on Locke's promise as a potential signature at adult formats.
The music video for "Change" was filmed in Nashville and was shot by award winning director Roman White, who has directed videos for such artists as Carrie Underwood, Hootie and the Blowfish, and Lonestar. The video follows Locke walking alone through the city on a cold winter's night. A promotional dance remixed version of the video was also produced and distributed to danceclubs.
A proven hit-maker, who has scored four Top 10 Billboard hits and collaborated with a dream team who've crafted songs for Whitney Houston, Destiny's Child, Jennifer Lopez, Monica and Kelly Clarkson, among others, is giving the recording thing another go. She is currently working on her 4th album with producer Randy Jackson. She states the album will be more in the dance genre and hopes for an early 2010 release. Have I ever mentioned that I love her voice? Locke is truly a vivacious and lovely woman who is captivating with her awesome voice and musical style.

Jessica Harp Shows What "A Woman Needs"

American country artist Jessica Harp, one-half of the Grammy-nominated duo, The Wreckers, and now she sets out on a solo adventure with a new music video for her new single, "A Woman Needs," exclusively on AOL's The Boot yesterday. The single was impacting radio last Tuesday, January 19. Inspired by the video, Harp got a tattoo of three stars as a reminder of the significance the song's message had on her own life.
Despite getting her debut single "Boy Like Me" inside the Top 40 at Country radio last year, Harp is still primarily known as of the Wreckers with her good friend Michelle Branch. The single, "A Woman Needs," is the second and title-track off of Harp's forthcoming solo debut album, "A Woman Needs," which is scheduled for release on May 11. The album blends a lot of juicy hooks with heartfelt lyrics that are, at times, autobiographical, and other times are just about having a good ole time. Co-written by Harp with her husband Jason and producer Jerry Flowers, "A Woman Needs" is a song that takes the well-worn "sow my oats" story and weaves into a cohesive mission statement about how we all need to 'spend time on our own' to find out who we are. With a progressive country-pop like sounds as good as anything currently on country radio, Harp sings the lyrics with strong, individual freedom.
In the making of the video webisodes, Harp described the theme of the video, which is based on the movie Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood and centers around a woman who was unable to live out her dreams, but is able to see her daughter fulfill those dreams. Harp celebrates friendship in this endearing new video, directed by Kristin Barlowe, chronicles the story of three girlfriends throughout their childhood, teenage and adult years. In each stage of their life, the girls carry a tradition of a star symbol on their hand in varying degrees of permanence to mark a few of life's seasons. "'A Woman Needs' is a really special song," Harp says. "It's about women coming into their own and following their dreams, following their paths, and sometimes taking the path unknown. I think the obvious answer with me, the dream that I've followed, is the dream that I've had since I was three years old to grow up to be a country singer."

Parachute's Rich Melody "The Mess I Made" Video

Virginia-based five-some band Parachute got a taste of success when they released their debut single "She Is Love," which became a Adult Contemporary radio staple, and the video was the belle of the VH1 ball last May. As a part of their first major tour following the release of debut studio album, "Losing Sleep" in the summer of 2009, they have been touring with artists such as 3 Doors Down, The Script, Secondhand Serenade, and Kelly Clarkson.
Things continue to head in a musical skyward direction for this Island Def Jam/Mercury alt-soul rockers. After the debut album release of "Losing Sleep," the band saw luck and raised it bundles of talent, and now follow-up "She Is Love" with a second music video off of their album "Losing Sleep" for their latest rich melody-laden tune "The Mess I Made," with director Brad Furman in Los Angeles features actress Jennifer Lawrence.
Soulful rock is served up on a delicious platter in new video for the melancholy track about love lost and regret. Working out "romantic ideals and the frustration of real life" are certainly conditions most people can relate to. "'The Mess I Made' deals with the regret and looking back on a failed relationship. Its video is currently generating a lot of good heat for the band." says band's vocals Will Anderson. When asked whether he thought songwriting is a kind of poetry, Anderson admits, "Yeah, it is. Sometimes my songs are very literal and sometimes they are very straight. Other times they are more poetic. For me it depends on the song and the situation."
Sufficed to say, I immediately fell in love with this album and it's been on heavy rotation on my iTunes play-list ever since. Parachute is definitely "in the zone" for me. I've been following them since I heard their debut single, "She Is Love" last May. Fortunately, "The Mess I Made" is still about giving compliments to a girl and literally about something a guy would regret for letting the girl he loves and all that. Well, it's still very straight to the heart which I mostly find on all Parachute songs.

Sarah McLachlan's "One Dream" For Olympics

Humanitarian and 3x Grammy-winning singer and Vancouver native Sarah McLachlan has written, recorded, and shot a themed music video for her song "One Dream", which will be used to promote as the official theme song for the upcoming 2010 Winter Olympics taking place in her hometown. The video for "One Dream" will premiere tonight at 9 p.m. during the 2010 AT&T U.S. Figure Skating Championships. It featured McLachlan mixed with highlights from the 2006 games in Turin, Italy, and countdown to kick off on February 12 at 9 p.m. Friday via NBC.
The spirit of the Olympic dream is captured in McLachlan's new song, "One Dream" is "written in the spirit of the Olympics," according to a news release from McLachlan's label, Nettwerk Records, and is inspired by the shared hopes and "by the athletes of the world as they strive to reach their Olympic goals." Something McLachlan knows a bit about herself: Since her 1988 debut album, "Touch," every album of hers has been certified gold, platinum or multi-platinum, no doubt making her one of Vancouver's favorite daughters. She is known for her emotional ballads and mezzo-soprano vocal range. "I am thrilled to be a part of the Olympics celebration. The games will provide the perfect opportunity to share with the world the hometown I love!" McLachlan said in the press release. And it's a very good thing she's warming up those pipes now.
Every two years, the Olympics come into our lives and take over our televisions, allowing us at home to watch the great athletes from across the globe battle it out. The Olympics are great for many reasons; they unify countries, they glorify the greatest, and they give much needed spirit to the nations involved. The touching and inspiring lyrics from "One Dream" will keep the Olympians warm during the frigid Vancouver nights and motivate them to go for the gold. It's refreshing to see McLachlan making new music and supporting the Olympics with such a great video: simple and artistic and completely inspiring with lots of heart. This summer, McLachlan, the lovely founder of Lilith Fair will headline the rejuvenated Lilith Fair concert festival, and is expected to release a new album, but it's not yet known if "One Dream" will be included on the album.

Angel Taylor Premiered "Like You Do" On VH1

Hailed by many as one of the brightest new artists of 2009, Angel Taylor, a pop singer-songwriter based out of the Los Angeles area, is poised to breakout in 2010. Her debut album, entitled "Love Travels" was named iTunes' Best Pop Album of 2009, and now Taylor rings in the New Year 2010 as the latest 'VH1 You Oughta Know' artist. The network has celebrated Taylor's rising star with the broadcast premiered her first music video, "Like You Do," last Saturday, January 16, on "VH1 Top 20 Countdown."
Taylor spent most of 2009 on the road in support of "Love Travels." She made her television debut October 17, 2009, when she performed "Like You Do" on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show", and featured in the 6th season finale of the CW television show "One Tree Hill."
Up-and-comer Taylor's new single "Like You Do" sounds like Colbie Caillat for a reason. The song was produced by Mikal Blue and co-written by Blue and Jason Reeves, who first patented breezy, sentimental pop with their work on Caillat's breakthrough single, "Bubbly." What Taylor offers, though, is a slightly sassier tone, as the 21-year-old takes zestful jabs at the object of her blossoming affection. Set to a fairly generic, foot-tapping beat, the lyrics are striking in their assertion of conflicted desire-they may not be edgy, but at least they feel honest.
Billboard got it right when they dubbed the 21-year-old singing/songwriting sensation one of their 15 Artists to Watch in 2009, and she remains one to watch in 2010, when "Love Travels" promises to take Taylor to even greater heights. Billboard magazine hailed "Like You Do" for its "breezy, sentimental pop" and the "sassier tone" of lyrics that are "striking in their assertion of conflicted desire," while the Associated Press called the album "one of the top debuts of the year." As a "VH1 You Oughta Know" Artist on the Rise, Taylor joins the esteemed ranks of Amy Winehouse, The Fray and label-mate Adele.
A passionate blend of youthful innocence, soulful essence and a spiritual center, Taylor is every bit as wholesome and pure as her "Love Travels" debut, her longing for love and lust for life colored by dashes of hope. Don't count on that changing anytime soon.

Keri Hilson Shows Her True Colors In 'Change Me'

American R&B and pop singer Keri Hilson just dropped a new official music video for her international single "Change Me" unexpectedly, to follow up her No.1 single "I Like" overseas in Germany and other areas. The song features a rather screechy Akon.
The new single "Change Me" is the sixth single lifted from Hilson's old-certified debut album "In a Perfect World," which was released in March 2009. There was delay with the actual release of this single as it was sent to the U.S. urban radio back in October last year. Seems Hilson's album promotion in other countries and tour affected the official release. Although it was never officially released as a single, three months after being sent to the U.S. radio a full length music video appeared online. An official statement about the song has not been made.
The video for "Change Me," teamed up with Akon, was shot by British director Sarah Chatfield, and produced by Polow Da Don. Hilson's Perfect World gets a splash of color, the video takes place of the set of all white back drop with Hilson, the only one allowed to have springs of color. The video focuses on Hilson singing the song while lying on a bed, and she's looking absolutely gorgeous, stunning and breath taking.
Miss Hilson set the tone in 2009 for Female R&B Acts, and her album "In a Perfect World" was very good too. She has been busy recording her sophomore album, "Turning You On, times 10" for a tentative summer release, due May 2010. According to Billboard, Interscope head DJ Mormille says: "We're just getting into this, but we already have an idea of what we want to do. This album will continue the evolution of Keri, building off the hits 'Knock You Down' and 'Turning Me On,' which helped define her." It doesn't mean she has to stop spitting out new videos from her Gold-selling album "In a Perfect World". But first she will make a stop at the Grammys on January 31 on CBS, where she is nominated for two awards including Best New Artist.