HAPPY NEW YEAR! Today is January 1, 2012. Everyone gets to wipe their slate clean and create whatever it is they want for their lives. One of my resolutions is to spend more time using my musical um, talents. Since I have no musical talents, I figured I’d share other people’s to improve your life. I know, I’m a giver. Please check out the music , VOTE for your favorite in the poll embedded below, and SHARE with your friends. VOILA! Your New Year has started off perfectly. May all your hopes come true this year and a big THANK YOU to everyone who so passionately followed RadioPotato and contributed in the previous years.

 

Click HERE for Spotify Playlist or listen below:

1. “I FOUND YOU” – ALABAMA SHAKES  Motown soul meets Jack White.  Gaining attention from the release of their eponymous EP from NPR, the New York Times, and even Bob Lefsetz spewing his critiques, Athens, AL’s Alabama Shakes is an unlikely band that has just what ears have been begging for.  Amy Winehouse and the Dap-Kings have flung the doors open for rockabilly, jazz, and retro music to resurge as the hottest style.  Lead singer Brittany Howard sounds like a thunderbolt of Motown’s ancestors’ soul with a southern twist.  Bring on the revival!  I am awake!  Official Website | Facebook | Twitter | Download 

 

2. “MURDEROUS JOY” – CARTER TANTON Evoking expansive Western skies and a long drive, “Murderous Joy” has the warm fuzzy indie-folk vibe that showcases Carter Tanton’s blissfully longing voice.  The rolling guitars and wistful lyrics are transfixing as you step inside a dream.  After label drama disbanded his former group, Tulsa in 2009, Carter recorded this solo effort, Freeclouds entirely in his New York apartment.  “I need just a little time, to sing you a line / You won’t soon forget / About a wild-eyed boy and murderous joy”.  Website | Info|  Facebook | Twitter | Download

3. “BEAR” – GRACE WOODROOFE If you could mix Joss Stone with Grace Potter with a fresh young take, you’ve got “Bear.”  After sending in a demo tape four years ago to an Australian talent show, the attention of Grace Woodroofe’s appearance garnered the ear of her brother’s friend, the late actor Heath Ledger.  Heath connected her to Ben Harper and he was taken by her bewitching bluesy style and Grace moved to Los Angeles as a tender teenager.  Now 20 years old (whut!), she has a deeply intense delivery with a rawness of exposed hide.  This sultry siren is about to rip North America wide open with her seductive style.  There’s no video yet for “Bear” but please check out her latest video, “I’ve Handled Myself Wrong.” Official Website | Facebook | Twitter | Download

4. “THORNS” – CHARLIE SIMPSON I swear, Charlie’s songs have drugs in ‘em.  With a slightly melancholy tambor to his voice, London’s Charlie Simpson’s  hypnotic hooks are irresistible to the human ear.  With a successful background in harmonic metal (Fightstar) and punk-pop (Busted), he has taken a decidedly different turn with his acclaimed acoustic folk-rock solo effort. Playing every single instrument (apart from the drums) on his album Young Pilgrim, it sounds somber with a shot of summer.  It’s a stunner. Thanks to JrzyGyrl.com for the intro.  Official Website | Facebook | Twitter | Download – UK

5. “I’VE BEEN AROUND THE WORLD” – SEVEN HANDLE CIRCUS I can’t say enough about this rising band.  Releasing their new EP Whiskey Stills & Sleeping Pills on January 1st, 2012, this high energy Georgia bluegrass band has got THE spark.  Touting themselves as “bad-ass bluegrass,” their 6-piece band innovatively weaves their musical chops to create infectious harmonies but also put on a live show you’ll never forget.  Fortuitously discovered by Mumford & Sons last June, the band got to jam with Mumford and had the new gods of folk proudly endorse them to a sold out crowd at Atlanta’s legendary Fox Theatre. Video below has 3 songs – This song starts at 1:27.  Official Website | Facebook | Twitter | Download | RadioPotato Interviews