I’m was just kicking back asking myself , what’s new in blues? So as I typically do I tried to get my computer to figure it out for me. I started rooting around on the Amazon developers web site and found out my computer could indeed figure it out (at least what’s new in blues on Amazon - my computer has a rather myoptic view of the world). Turns out my spidey senses must have been tingling. A quick bit of code and I got a list of 27 new blues releases today on Amazon.com! I looked into it and turns out some where already discontinued by the manufacturer (that’s gotta hurt) and some were vinyl re-releases of old recordings. But I think I actually found 13 new Blues CD releases today - some are really awesome too - like A Tribute to The Mississippi Sheiks - Things About Comin’ My Way.
All of my finds were interesting. Here is a widget of some previews and the links to the new CDs I found. Looks like the blues is alive and well on Amazon.com!
If you enter “Ana” in Google the first hit you’ll get is Ana Popovic (an up an coming blues musician currently on tour). I’m not sure why I find that so amazing. A blues musician being the first hit on google! Anyway I’ve tweeted out a couple of times, Ana Popovic’s new album is coming, Ana Popovic’s new album now available, check out Ana Popovic’s Myspace page and the response I get is: “Thanks I had not heard of Ana Popovic”. I knew some of Ana’s stuff from being friends on myspace but I have to admit this new album of Ana’s is what it took for me to really take notice of this up and coming blues star. Here are some samples from her new album Blind For Love.
Pretty hot stuff - especially that song that opens up on Ana Popovic’s website - Nothing Personal. Ana may seem like an overnight success to us but in fact she’s been touring for 14 years now. I’m sure we’ve all heard of the star interviewed when accused of being an overnight success they always respond “overnight success took X years” X usually being 10 to 30 years. I’m sure what appears to be overnight success is well deserved. Here is a awesome clip from 2005 that shows Ana’s excellent guitar skills.
Another thing about Ana Popovic which pleased me is that her music is available from eMusic. Since I’m a subscriber emusic only tells me I can download Ana’s new album and I did. I can’t tell me if it can be had as one of the 25 free tunes you get for signing up for a free trial but hey - it’s free for you to find out so why not sign up, get 25 free MP3s and let me know if you were able to get Ana’s Cd for free. I got it as part of my monthly allotment with eMusic. Click this link for more about my Emusic experience which I’m throughly enjoying.
Anyway, Ana as you probably guessed from the previews is a diverse artist performing blues, rock and funk. Ana Popovic and her band are touring in North America and Europe in August so check out their myspace page for the latest dates and some more fine tunes.
Lastly let me leave you with these two options from Amazon.com. The first link will take you to Ana’s CD page on Amazon and the second one will take you to the page where you can buy the MP3s from Amazon.
In case you’re wondering, yes I’m recommending you pick up Ana’s new CD or at least your favorite MP3 for you collection.
I have to thank Gavin on Twitter for bringing Oli Brown to my attention. According to Gavin, Oli is only 19 years old, and I have to say I’m impressed! Oli has been featured on classic rocks track of the day *(high praise), has a signature guitar in production by Vanquish Guitars in the UK his debut 2008 album was named as one of the Top 10 Albums of the year by Blues Matters Magazine. Check out this live performance:
Is that smoking hot guitar playing or what? So I could, and will, go on with a few more links but here is one bit of bad news. Oli’s CD is only available as an import at $38 in North America from Amazon (my side of the pond). But the MP3’s are available from amazon at just $0.99 for one or $0.89 for each of the others from the link to the right. Also you can order directly from Ruf Records for $15 US. Gotta Love the internet eh!
We’re bound to hear lots more from Oli Brown in the coming years. The band is signed with Ruf Records and that’s a whole other story I plan to do a post on real soon. In the mean time Oli is super accessible on the net (as you’d expect from any 19 year old I guess). here a just a few places to hear and learn more about Oli Brown and the Oli Brown Band.
You know about.com is really a great site. They have a pretty steady stream of blues and jazz news pouring out on the web. The one thing they don’t do that well is pricing and music previews. Anyway I can do something about that ha ha. Seriously though thanks for this list of new blues albums released in July 2009 in the article posted at about.com. Here is an Amazon.com widget with some previews of tunes by the artists listed below. Note not all songs are from new releases (because some are not released yet :?))
Here is the list published by about.com with some links to the album on amazon.com (some are offering some free mp3s for a limited time).
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I have to thank 
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