Tag Archives: tamara wellons

2008 Albums Of The Year You’ve Probably Never Heard

17 Wednesday Dec 2008

Posted by in Album Reviews, Best Of Lists

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So we’ve covered my favorite songs of the year that you’ve probably never heard. More great suggestions showed up in the comments. Keep them coming. It should go without saying that I highly recommend each of the albums from which those songs came.

The following list of albums were in constant rotation as well. However, I absolutely could not pick a favorite song from any of them. Every song had me grooving harder than the last. Each song had me feeling harder than the one before.

Green Tea is a local DC artist I’ve been following for a few years now.Her second release, Dosage II: Choices has completely blown me away. She is one to watch.

If you need to be convinced to check out Maiysha’s debut album, you may be swayed by the fact that she was nominated for a Grammy for Best Urban/Alternative Performance. Again for her debut album.

I’m going to stop calling myself a true soulful house fan because I was late getting Reel People’s latest release. But once I pressed play, I couldn’t stop. Expect this album to show up again.

Major props to the good folks over at Blak’s Lair for putting me on to The Rurals. My latest musical addiction, Marie Tweek (whose sound will surprise you), sang with this group. Once I heard that, I knew this album would be on constant repeat. Tweek would have been all over my lists as well if she had another solo album out this year. Check for her as well.

You already know how I feel about Tamara Wellons and Leigh Jones.

I have had Giovanca’s album in my collection for a while but after Fave (remember that podcaster I said you should be listening to? Get on that because he’s backkkk in a HUGE way) mentioned her on Twitter, I moved her to the top of the list – where she belonged.

I’m really excited about what’s ahead for Yazarah. Her appearance on the album you know is going to be all up and through my other top 10 lists (that would be Leave It All Behind for those of you a little late to the party)definitely has people checking for her again. This EP is called Prelude. If this is just the introduction, ya’ll ain’t ready for what’s up next.

greentea_maiysha

Green Tea, Dosage II: Choices
Listen | Myspace

Grammy nominated artist Maiysha, This Much Is True
Listen| Official | Follow her on Twitter

reelpeople_rurals

Reel People, Seven Ways To Wonder
Listen| Official

The Rurals, Farming Grooves
Listen | Myspace

tamara_leigh

Tamara Wellons, Life Is
Listen| Official

Leigh Jones, Music In My Soul
Listen | Official

giovanca_yazarah

Giovanca, Subway Silence
Official | Myspace

Yazarah, Prelude(EP)
Myspace

Honorable Mention:

Grammy nominated artist Wayna, Higher Ground

Joey Negro and the Sunburst Band, Moving With The Shakers

Eric Rico, Higher Frequency

Feel free to share the criminally underrated albums that are in heavy rotation for you this year in the comments.

Underrated Female Soul Singer Spotlight: Tamara Wellons

28 Tuesday Oct 2008

Posted by in Underrated Artist Spotlights

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I just love it when I get the opportunity to be a lazy blogger, particularly after the day that I’ve had. A glass of wine and a couple hours of mindless television are calling my name.

Before I left yesterday evening to stalk Phontigallo see Little Brother in concert, I started another spotlight post about Tamara Wellons, an artist I had the opportunity to see live for the first time at the Can A Sista Rock A Mic festival earlier this month. She has long been yet another artist whose music is on the never-ending list I need to give a listen to.

What I appreciate about Tamara is that while she is a teacher, a wife and mother of three, in all the spare time she has left she is actively doing what she loves. She has tangible products of her passion. Members of Procrastinators Anonymous, time’s a wastin.

Anyhow, back to my laziness.

Lucky for me, Butta over at Soul Bounce, has done all the work for me and posted a sampler of Life Is, Tamara’s new album released today on Ocha Records, along with details of the release party tomorrow night in DC. Head on over and take a listen. Fans of soulful house and jazz, this one’s for you!

Here’s a taste of some of the musical delights you can expect to hear at the release party. If you’re not local, these live performances from the album should clear up any doubts you may have as to whether to add this one to your virtual shopping cart.

Let It Go (Track 6)

Corcovado (Track 7)

Oh Well (Track 8 )

Get into this.

Tamara Wellons Official | Tamara Wellons Myspace

Continue supporting underrated artists.

*note: You can see the official album cover over at Soul Bounce. Artsy fartsty me just had to go with the inside album art.