Tony Fentons Blog

View today's shows Tony Fenton: 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm - Monday to Friday

Daily Download - Friday 30th October 2009

30/10/2009 11:31:07

Susie Soho – Spinning Top
Despite the recession causing many things to grind to a halt, one thing that hasn’t been affected is the steady release of new Irish music. Indie 4-piece Susie Soho is centred on the songs of singer / songwriter Tony Fitzpatrick, who was once Damien Rice’s guitarist among other things. Their debut single is being released today.

Susie Soho describe themselves as ‘the kind of band you’d get if Gemma Hayes and Dave Grohl had some kind of musical lovechild.’ They played a set at Oxegen this year and will be performing in the Odessa Club in Dublin on 13th November. Released today, the single Spinning Top is from their debut album Where All the Ladders Start. Check out the video directed by Niall Campion below...

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Daily Download - Thursday 29th October 2009

29/10/2009 12:22:52

Frank Sinatra – In The Wee Small Hours of the Morning
The Voice; Chairman of the Board; The Sultan of Swoon, and of course, Ole Blue Eyes. These were all nicknames given to the legendary Frank Sinatra. From his jazz days in the 1940s, to the swinging Rat Pack in the 1960s, Sinatra weathered the changing tastes in music to become one of the world’s biggest stars. Our download today is a beautiful classic Frank Sinatra song.

You can’t go wrong with some Sinatra on your iPod, and apart from all his more poppy hits like New York, New York and My Way, Frank had some really gorgeous songs over the years. In 1955, he released his album In the Wee Small Hours and the title track of that is our download today. Check it out below...

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Daily Download - Wednesday 28th October 2009

28/10/2009 13:37:33

Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros – Home
American band Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros was formed not by a guy called Edward, but by a singer named Alex Ebert. A 10 strong group of musicians and singers who like to channel the wild west vibe, Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros make music to sing along and smile to. Our download today is a track from their debut album.

During the summer, Edward Sharpe released their debut album called Up From Below. Sort of like Arcade Fire meets The Mamas and the Papas, they encourage concert fans to dance bare feet and recorded the album only on analogue tape. Our download today is a beautiful track from the album, called Home. Check out the lovely video below...

Home - Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros

EDWARD SHARPE & THE MAGNETIC ZEROS | MySpace Video

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Daily Download - Tuesday 27th October 2009

27/10/2009 13:05:57

Jenna Toro – Electric City
When I first heard today’s daily download, I thought this is a great song sung by a really unique voice. I was then pleasantly surprised to find that the singer, Jenna Toro, is Irish. At just 20 years of age, this Dublin singer – who has Spanish roots – is getting ready to release her debut album in the Spring.

Jenna Toro has everything she needs to make it big – the looks, the talent, the voice and the songs. She fell in love with playing the piano in her teens when she became a massive Tori Amos fan and she’s been gigging for the last few months, including a set at Oxegen. Her debut single won’t be available until 20th November, but you can listen to it on her MySpace page HERE

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Daily Download - Friday 23rd October 2009

23/10/2009 11:06:19

David Gray – Nemesis
His 1998 album remains the biggest selling album ever in Ireland and he’s currently promoting his 7th studio album across Europe and America. David Gray was in the studio with us a few weeks ago and played his new single live, and said he’s really happy with his new album, Draw the Line. It’s been a long time coming and James O’Malley from Athenry in Galway is delighted with the album too.

James says, “I’d like to suggest a great song from David Gray’s new album. I’ve been a big fan of his for a long time and this song is, in my opinion, his greatest song so far. The music is beautiful and the lyrics are just fantastic. It’s definitely a song people should have on their iPod. It’s called Nemesis.” Listen to it below...

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Daily Download - Thursday 22nd October 2009

22/10/2009 12:57:04

Noelie McDonnell – Big Release
Most of you will remember the surprise hit from last summer from Galway singer songwriter Noelie McDonnell. Written about his nephew, Nearly Four topped the iTunes Folk chart and was a favourite with TodayFm listeners…now Noelie is ready to release his third album and it’s a whole new affair.

Come Alive is the name of Noelie McDonnell’s new album and you’ll be able to buy it from 6th November. Recorded in Austin, Texas, there’s a taster of what’s to come in the lead off single Big Release. Although Noelie still has his roots in folk music, this song is a brilliant upbeat bit of rock and will be available to download from tomorrow.

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BellX1

21/10/2009 15:44:46

They boys dropped in for a great session on Wednesday afternoon and you can listen to it again on our Interviews and Sessions page.

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Daily Download - Wednesday 21st October 2009

21/10/2009 14:05:43

Miike Snow – Animal
Miike Snow is not one, but three men from Sweden who decided to set up a band just 2 years ago. Already big in the music industry as singers, songwriters and producers, the success of their debut album has surprised the band and last night, they appeared live on TV on Later with Jools Holland…

John McCarthy got in touch after seeing Miike Snow on Jools last night, suggesting we play their song Animal as a daily download. It was the first single off their album and The Guardian newspaper have described them as ‘A-Ha meets Animal Collective.’ Check out the video below...

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Daily Download - Monday 19th October 2009

19/10/2009 14:09:46

Fionn Regan – Protection Racket
Wicklow singer songwriter Fionn Regan burst on to the Irish music scene 2 years ago with his debut album The End of History. It went on to be nominated for the Choice and Mercury Music Prizes, Fionn was nominated for a Meteor award and the album was then released in America resulting in 2 years of intense touring. Now, he’s putting the finishing touches to album number two!

Fionn’s End of History album was a low-key affair with songs that were reminiscent of 1970’s Nick Drake. On his new album, he has a bigger band and a bigger sound. He wrote the songs while on tour and during the upheaval of the global recession so expect to find that theme running through them. The album is called The Shadow of an Empire and won’t be out until next Spring, but for the moment, you can download a new track from the Irish Times website called Protection Racket. Click HERE to download the track

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Daily Download - Friday 16th October 2009

16/10/2009 14:07:05

Regina Spektor – Eet
Some of you would argue that the current queen of the piano singer/songwriters is New Yorker Regina Spektor. She has the fans, the songs and that quirky presence that marks her out from the rest. Her set at Oxegen this year resulted in a packed out tent and her fifth album released during the summer received rave reviews.

Regina’s album Far, is by ‘far’ one of my favourite albums of the year. She’s a great singer and I can’t wait to see her when she supports David Gray in December in the O2. Her second single from Far is available now and it’s called Eet….check out the video below...

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Daily Download - Thursday 15th October 2009

15/10/2009 12:27:40

Ben’s Brother feat. Anastacia – Stalemate
A relatively unknown band, Ben’s Brother hail from England but the lead singer is already an accomplished artist in the music world. Jamie Hartman has Ivor Novello and Brit Award nominations and has written songs for the likes of Will Young and Natalie Imbruglia. He also has a new album out with Ben’s Brother.

Battling Giants is the second album from Ben’s Brother, which is out at the moment. The new single from it has had an interesting journey. As it’s a duet, Joss Stone was drafted in to record with the lads, but her record company wouldn’t let them release it with her vocals on it. So they re-recorded it with another big voice, Anastacia, and it’ll be out on 23rd October. It’s called Stalemate. Check out the video below!

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Daily Download - Wednesday 14th October 2009

14/10/2009 13:16:37

Nerina Pallot – Real Late Starter
Born to a French father and an Indian mother and raised on the island of Jersey, singer songwriter Nerina Pallot has used her gorgeous voice, piano playing and songwriting talents to become a Platinum selling, Brit Award and Ivor Novello nominated artist. This month sees the release of her third album and a busy time ahead for Nerina.

Nerina Pallot has a very strong work ethic – she re-mortgaged her house to finance her last album, as well as setting up her own record label. She has written and produced every song on her new album The Graduate and is currently writing and producing tracks for Kylie’s new album! Out this Friday, the first single from The Graduate is the catchy Real Late Starter. Check out the very strange video below...

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Zach Braff is NOT DEAD people!

13/10/2009 17:05:11

Zach Braff has gone the way of Jeff Goldblum.

In other words, he's very much not dead.

A nasty rumor floated all over the Internet yesterday that the Scrubs star had offed himself with a bunch of pills. Thankfully, he posted a note on Facebook (which received less "likes" than he would have liked) and a video to clear up the tall tales. Here's the video...it will remind you to watch the new series of Scrubs this Thursday at 9pm on E4....

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Valerie Francis - Punches

13/10/2009 14:28:41

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Daily Download - Tuesday 13th October 2009

13/10/2009 13:12:20

Gemma Hayes – Head and Heart

It’s been just over a year since Gemma Hayes released her last album, The Hollow of Morning. Since then, she has teased us with an EP called Oliver and according to her Twittering, she’s currently in the middle of recording her fourth album in France. Our download today, though, is from a new album featuring Gemma called Heartland.

Heartland – Songs for Croí is a charity album in aid of Croí where all money will go to fund the West of Ireland Heart Surgery Centre. The various artists on it hail from the 10 counties where Croí operates and it will be in shops from this Friday. All of the songs have the word Heart of Croí in the title and the second track on the album is Gemma Hayes singing Head and Heart – a lovely version of a John Martyn song.

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Daily Download - Monday 12th October 2009

12/10/2009 14:06:35

Daniel Merriweather feat. Adele – Water & A Flame
Australian RnB singers aren’t exactly populating the shelves in record shops, but a young singer who is making a name for himself is 27 year old Daniel Merriweather. From Melbourne, Australia, Daniel started out making records by providing vocals for other people’s work, including famous producer Mark Ronson. He came into his own, though, when he released his debut album this summer.

Daniel Merriweather has a voice that’ll go a long way. His album Love and War went to number 2 in the UK charts and he’s already releasing a fourth single from it at the end of the month. A lovely duet with the gorgeous Adele, it’s called Water and a Flame. Check it out below..

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Here's something to make you smile :)

09/10/2009 16:43:26

Just came across the new video for Fred's single Skyscrapers. Great song and these guys are just so much fun, it's infectious!! Check out the video...gauranteed to put a smile on your face! Px

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Daily Download - Friday 9th October 2009

09/10/2009 12:00:14

Bon Jovi – We Weren’t Born to Follow
As you know, our daily downloads can be anything from the old to the new, the famous to the obscure and today’s is from a band that you all must know of…together for 26 years now, Bon Jovi – like them or loathe them – have been one of the most successful American rock bands of the last 20 years. They’re now set to let loose their 11th studio album…

You’ll be able to get your hands on The Circle on 6th November. Jon Bon Jovi has said that the title of the album is based on the fact that a circle is never ending, that it’s difficult to get into and even harder to get out of…hmmm? Richie Sambora has said it’s a return to the rock and roll Bon Jovi you all know and love, so here’s the first single from The Circle called We Weren’t Born to Follow! Check it out below...

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Daily Download - Thursday 8th October 2009

08/10/2009 13:47:48

Stereophonics – Innocent
What made the Stereophonics so popular over the last decade or so? The combination of catchy rock songs and Kelly Jones’ whiskey tinged vocals was the basis for the Welsh band’s success since the early 1990s. Albums like Performance and Cocktails, Just Enough Education to Perform and Language, Sex, Violence, Other were chart hits and now Kelly and Co are set to release their seventh studio album.

There’s exactly 2 years between every Stereophonics album, from Word Gets Around right up to Pull the Pin 2 years ago. Keep Calm and Carry On is the title of Stereophonics new album. It’ll be out in November but ahead of that is their new single, which will be available to buy and download from 6th November. It’s called Innocent…check out the HD video below...

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Daily Download - Wednesday 7th October 2009

07/10/2009 13:57:46

Fastball – The Way
The ‘90s wasn’t all bad music, X-Works jeans and bad hair dos. Some music has stood the test of time, especially one hit wonders such as Texas band Fastball. They were catapulted to fame in 1998 when their album All The Pain Money Can Buy went to number one in the charts. The hit single off that album has been recommended by Laurence Simpson from Ferbane in Co Offaly.

Laurence reminisces on his daily download suggestion and says, “I remember listening to The Way by Fastball on a great holiday in California in ‘98 driving down the pacific coast highway to San Diego with the top down. Give it a blast Tony I think you'll like it!...from Laurence (Homer) Simpson, (I used to be Bart But I think I'm Now the Shape of Homer!) You may not recognise the name Fastball or The Way, but if you were around in the ‘90s, you’ll recognise the song itself…check out the video below!

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