Blog Posts by Dave DiMartino

It's almost become a matter of course that spectacularly talented artists can seemingly arise out of nowhere--and to many, that will seem to be the case with wonderful new Scottish vocalist Emeli Sandé.

The singer, who won the 2012 Brit Award in the Critic's Choice category, has astounded many with her soulful, vibrant debut album Our Version Of Events--and that terrific set, which reached the Number One position on the UK charts, is seeing its American debut this week on EMI Records.

Sandé, an extremely adept songwriter, has already written a number of songs for such successful Brit artists as Susan Boyle, Leona Lewis, Tinie Tempah, Cheryl Cole, Cher Lloyd and Alesha Dixon, among others, and was dubbed his "favorite songwriter at the minute" by no less than Simon Cowell--reality TV kingpin and a man who rarely speaks so boldly unless he sees vast sums of money in the offing. As one listen to Our Version Of Events will attest, it was not an especially bold claim on his part. On the

Though I conscientiously try to write this blog every single week--and believe me, diligently covering pop music's hottest new releases is no easy task--time often gets the better of me!

And so it was that last week, as I traveled from exciting Los Angeles to exotic Nashville to glorious Miami, my fabled homeland, I allowed a week to pass without posting a blog! Rest assured, readers in Oklahoma, Lagos & Madison were both stunned and left wondering if in fact nothing whatsoever was even released last week!

So let's just say they were right, and pretend last week never happened! I've been doing that for years, and I still get to write this thing!

The Beach Boys: That's Why God Made The Radio (Capitol) I'd be lying if I said I had tremendously high expectations for this set--a "reunion" featuring most of the original Beach Boys except departed Wilson brothers Dennis and Carl, effectively celebrating their 50th year together as a band--but here I sit, impressed nonetheless. First, the

What an extraordinary week!

Massive pop stars have sadly passed, Miley Cyrus and the word "pantsless" appeared on the homepage of a well-known internet portal, a significant partial eclipse of the sun caused profound psychic confusion among the most sensitive, and it's the closing week of American Idol!

Plus MET-Rx Protein Plus Creamy Peanut Butter Crisp bars continue being offered at local 7-11's for the staggering rate of two for $5!

Additionally, new albums have been released! That's kind of cool, too!

John Mayer: Born And Raised (Columbia) Poor John Mayer! Enviably talented, a fine singer, songwriter and guitarist, a witty, affable guy, the dude is simply too good-looking and too involved in the moment--steeped and unsteeped in the world of Facebook and Twitter--to be judged purely on the basis of his raw ability! It's fair to say

Like most music fans, I too was captivated by what may have been this week's biggest music story! "Rihanna shares racy topless photos," blared the headlines, accompanied by a helpful "Go To Video" button--which I surely would have pressed, if my mother hadn't been calling at that very minute to thank me for the beautiful flower assortment I'd sent her for Mother's Day!

As you might imagine, clicking that button and seeing Rihanna's racy topless photos just didn't seem appropriate after speaking with my mom!

Instead, I cleaned my room, prepared myself a healthy meal of a small chicken breast and string beans, poured a ginger ale, and sat down to watch the probing and inquisitive TV show 60 Minutes!

Later that night I spent a few hours stalking a few old acquaintances on Spokeo, seeing how long I could hold my breath, checking out that whole Britney Spears/Demi Lovato X Factor thing, and just staring at pictures of Rihanna! It's hard to explain, but after a half-hour, I felt strangely alive...in a way I'd never felt before...so I went and opened up a can of peanut brittle!

"I better not mention this when I write my next blog," I told myself. "what if Mom reads it?"

Adam Lambert: Trespassing (19 Recordings) One of the drawbacks/benefits of working with one of this country's biggest American Idol experts is that, whether I want to or not, I know more about the show than any sane human would ever want! Of course, I don't know what any of the dopey contestants actually

Some out-of-town visitors have taken me mildly by surprise these last few days--and, sad to say, it may be affecting my work habits!

Typically, as faithful readers surely know, I tend to listen to every new album release five or six times, study the lyrics whenever available, compare and contrast the work with each artist's respective past work, weigh the actual release, whether in vinyl or CD configuration (MP3s don't count!), and, perhaps most importantly, study the album cover for relevant clues as to the music contained within!

This week? I forgot to weigh the albums!

I therefore apologize in advance for these less than complete reviews and hope that you'll forgive me just this once!

But between you and me, they all sort of weigh the same!

Silversun Pickups: Neck Of The Woods (Dangerbird) I didn't know how much I'd missed the fabulous Silversun Pickups until I heard this brand new album, their third, and heard the crackling energy, the skilled songcraft, the tight and imaginative arrangements, and remembered all over again that they were one of Los Angeles' finest bands. It's

Apologies for being a day later than usual: I've just finished the second day of a planned three-day, work-related seminar that involves note-taking, PowerPoint slides, role-playing, and an endless supply of Diet Coke!

Yes, as you may suspect, it's been a virtual paradise!

Still, my chosen role as arbiter of good taste--the human whose sole role is to list the week's most interesting new album releases and often, for kicks, write something relevant about them--continues!

And so it is that I will now list 10 new releases--all of them equally exciting, emotionally compelling, and, in an odd way, sexually attractive--and appraise them not only for their cultural worth but for their physical appearance and relevance to you, my faithful readers!

I like the ones I listened to the best!

Norah Jones: ...Little Broken Hearts (Blue Note) That Norah Jones still releases albums on the esoteric and much-admired Blue Note label still says much about her artistic intent: She's quite good, focused on art, and apparently only mildly interested in selling oodles of records! And while she was once the bees knees sales-wise, and a Grammy

There's an interesting scenario that often emerges as a hypothetical talent gauge these days, especially when so much contemporary music emerges via studio and electronic means: Take a performer and plop him or her on a desert island with a crew of castaways and just one music instrument. How will that work out?

In the case of England's Michael Kiwanuka, the answer may be almost laughably obvious.

Staggeringly well.

With just a guitar in hand, and his strikingly soulful, emotive voice, Kiwanuka could likely entertain anyone anywhere. On a desert island, or in a makeshift studio in Austin, Texas during this year's South By Southwest music conference.

Consider this a welcome early preview of Kiwanuka, who's already been on the receiving end of a whirlwind of raves overseas. His first full album, Home Again, is slated to receive its American debut on July 31st at the moment, and it's every bit as good and soul-searing as the performances you can witness below. We all have a lot to look

Every South By Southwest conference typically features more than a handful of bands whose ascent to the top of the pop charts seems potentially likely if not exactly a certainty.

Having seen the New Cassettes in full live-and-electric mode, I'm inclined to count the Northampton, England band among them.

A five-piece of young, enthusiastic rockers with a powerful live set and a crackling new album in Winterhead, New Cassettes have garnered significant critical acclaim in the homeland and have made significant Stateside inroads as well: there music has already been heard on Grey's Anatomy, Jersey Shore, I Just Wants My Pants Back and much more. And in 2012, those sort of breaks may be even more significant than limited play on radio's tired rock 'n' roll formats.

All this being said, here's a treat: An early morning private performance during Austin's SXSW conference by just two of the band's members, unusually in a raw acoustic performance. Though they were a tad nervous in this