January 2013 Playlist • Various Artists

Clockwise: Cheyenne Jackson; Kris Searle; David Geftakys; and We The Ghost.

To be honest, I have been under the weather lately, now suffering from a common cold, which is making it tough to focus and write. I have a couple of new albums I need to get out for everyone to hear and love, but I just haven't gotten it together. In lieu of posting nothing, I quickly put together this post, which includes the first four songs on my January 2013 playlist that I have already listened to several times. So I will start with the latest single from the sexy and talented Cheyenne Jackson, "Don't Wanna Know". I think it is a great video, and a sensational song. I fell in love with it the moment I heard it.

You can purchase "Don't Wanna Know" from iTunes and Amazon.

Next up is another favorite of mine. Just before Christmas, or Krismas, as Searle tagged it, Kris Searle made two new singles for FREE! The best part is, they are both great songs, but only one made it on my January playlist. "Cry To Dream" features an amazing collaboration with Laura Evans, one that touches deep down in my heart. This particular version is dubbed the 'Minimal London Mix', but I am betting this song would sound amazing no matter the mix.

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You can acquire "Cry to Dream" from FREE by joining Kris' email list. Check it out on Noisetrader.

I have made no mystery how much I love the music of We The Ghost. The Tulsa-based band recently released a new EP, 'White Noise', which is not a good description of what you find when you listen. The sound is tight and bold, with five amazing songs. I picked "Let Me Know" to add to the playlist, and I am thrilled every time it comes on.

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You can purchase "Let Me Know" from iTunes and Amazon.

And, last but not least, I have a new song off the 'Games We Play' album from talented musician David Geftakys. And while the title cut was my first introduction to David's music, I picked "And You", the first cut on the album, to be a part of my playlist. I think there is such inherent charm on the track, it is irresistible.

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You can purchase "And You" from iTunes and Amazon.

I hope you have a great week, and I will be able to bring you some great new music very soon. With music from Fontaine James and Ezra Axelrod waiting fro a clearer mind, I am excited because I really love it.

David Geftakys • The Games We Play album

The long-awaited new album from David Geftakys is finally here! Well, to be fair, it is only long-awaited because I have been following David closely, reading about his time in the studio to make this great debut. After all, it was just over a year ago when singer/songwriter David Raleigh told me I should check out a video from this California boy. Since then, I have enjoyed the music made by Geftakys, and couldn't wait for his first full-length album, 'The Games We Play'.

'The Games We Play' is an eight-song collection, all from the voice of Geftakys. "Yeah, I wrote, recorded & produced all my own music and lyrics," David told me. "I mixed 6 songs with a friend & the other two on my own." The album kicks off with the track "And You", a song that immediately takes me back to the late 1980s, when U2 was mkaing great stadium Pop/Rock. The layered guitar-work speaks to me, as well as the haunted vocal. That is followed by the title track, a effusive Pop love song that warms your very soul. Check out the official video for "Games We Play".

Next we have the first of three songs also featured on the 2009 EP, 'Lines In My Hand'. "Say It All" steps up the rock quotient, with the electric guitar leading the driving beat. David's self-layered vocals are so on point, they lift you up to soar along side him. That leads to the fourth track, "Remembering How To Smile". Unlike the others, there is such a confidential feeling, almost confessional. It is soft, leaving the guitars to propel the song with sweet acoustic work, drawing the listener in close. "Crossroads Empire" is another new song, once again pairing the singer with his acoustic guitar. Lyrically this brings Bob Dylan to mind, and structurally reminds me of some of the great songs in the Lennon-McCartney songbook. Before I complete my thoughts, this might be a good time to give you a taste of the album, with this clip posted by David.

Next up, we have "Strange ". While never before released as an audio cut, this song was featured in a video after the song was inspired by the tumultuous news from across the globe a year ago. The song allows Geftakys, as well as the listener, to ask questions we all face when life's journey takes an unexpected detour. "Stellar Phoenix" shows Geftakys returning to his Rock roots, with the dark sounds of the distorted electric guitar crosses the line between Rock and Blues, like Jimmy Page is playing for Soundgarden. "Castaway" keeps the Rock progression, once again offering a layered and dense sound executed perfectly. I love the way Geftakys blurs the imagery of separation, both of the castaway and of those feeling left behind by society.

You can find 'The Games We Play' on iTunes. On Amazon, you can purchase either a download, or the physical CD. But I should warn you, once you start listening to David's music, you might not be able to stop! To learn more about David Geftakys, visit his official website. You can also 'follow' him on Twitter, or 'like' him on Facebook.

"You're Alive" • David Geftakys & David Gielan

There is a great new single from David Geftakys and David Gielan out, and ready to be a part of your collection. "You're Alive" is a bold and uplifting song that blends the voices of the two California-based singer/songwriters. I knew I was going to enjoy it when I heard Geftakys open the show, and was impressed when Gielan stepped up. But when they joined forces for the soaring chorus, the song had wings. Don't take my word for it, listen for yourself.

If you loved it as much as I do, you can purchase "You're Alive" on iTunes and CD Baby. To learn more about David Geftakys, visit his official website. To learn about David Gielan, visit him on Facebook.

David Geftakys • Games We Play

In yet another posting tribute to the 2012 London Olympic Games, I am not sure there could be a more charming entry than the song and video by David Geftakys, "Games We Play". Sure, he may not be thinking about sports or the like, but I am sure the athletes could all identify with his song about that special moments, when love is still young and growing.



"Games We Play" is available on iTunes and Amazon. For more about David Gefatkys, visit his official website.

David Geftakys • "Name"

David Geftakys has released a new video, as promised to his fans. The handsome singer/songwriter recorded a cover of "Name", the 1995 hit by the Goo Goo Dolls. The song, written by lead singer John Rzeznik, made it to #5 on the Billboard Hot 100, and topped the rock charts. Geftakys delivers as promised, not only singing a cover of a personal favorite, but giving another strong performance. Enjoy as David rocks you in the cradle of this performance.



For more about David Geftakys, visit his official website. You can also follow him on Twitter, or "Like" him on Facebook. You can also find his latest single, "Games We Play", on iTunes and Amazon. You can also find his EP Lines In My Hands on iTunes and Amazon, too. You can find videos of him performing his music and some other covers on his YouTube page.

More Great Singles from 2011

Clockwise: David Geftakys, Angelo, Cassidy Haley, Darryl Stephens, and Brian Kent.

This afternoon, I will be talking about another group of talented musicians who put out fantastic singles in 2011. It was such a great year for music, and these singles are shining examples of that. These might not be songs you are hearing on Pop radio, but if I were hearing them there, I might listen to the radio more often.

I first heard of David Geftakys when David Raleigh told me I should check out his video. I always will follow the advice of musicians, for they rarely steer me wrong. Well, I hit play on YouTube, I was pretty much a goner. That first song was his single this year, Games We Play. It has so much charm, and such a great melody line, I think it is a total winner. I also downloaded a previous release, Lines In My Hand, which I also love.



You can purchase Games We Play on iTunes and Amazon.

Funny enough, I first discovered Angelo and his music when I found his "It Get's Better" video on YouTube. Hey, here is a good-looking, out and proud man, so being the curious sort, I sought out his music, and found that it was quite good! I love his most recent single, Hands Down, and I think if you give it a listen, you would love it too.



You can purchase Hands Down on iTunes and Amazon.

I discovered the music of Brian Kent through Rich Overton of RJO Artists, who has represented so many talented people, I pay attention when he is involved. Brian has put out some great music in the last few years, like Breathe Life. This year, he had a new single, and it was all kinds of fun! Watch the video directed by Mike Ruiz for Su-Su-Su-Superstar, the latest from Kent.



You can purchase Su-Su-Su-Superstar on iTunes and Amazon.

There was a bit of buzz circulating around about the music of Cassidy Haley when Adam Lambert was on American Idol. I decided to check it out, and discovered that I really love Haley's music. He has a great blend of Rock and Pop, showing off the darker side of soul. Did I forget to mention he is also gorgeous and gay? Well, he is. You can make the call for yourself when you watch his video for This Time, released earlier this year. The song is from his 2010 album, The Fool.



You can purchase This Time on iTunes and Amazon.

I first became familiar with Darryl Stephens when he played the lead in the television series and subsequent movie, Noah's Arc. I loved the show, and was also happy to see him get other work in movies, for he is quite talented. Well, sometime this year he mentioned he was about to release a song he had written, and my interest was piqued. When Envious Moon came out, I bought it, and was quite impressed, not only for his writing skills, but his singing, too. Seems Darryl has talent in many different areas, and I hope we get to see/hear his musical bent a bit more. Here is the video for Envious Moon.



You can purchase Envious Moon on iTunes.

Cover Boy • David Geftakys

I present David Geftakys, today's cover boy. He was recommended to me by David Raleigh, and musicians seldom lead me astray. The California boy certainly didn't break that trend, for his music has charmed me, including his Crash Into Me by the Dave Matthews Band. There is a sweetness and vulnerability in his vocals, and a real strength in the guitar. David, of course, is responsible for both. Check it out.



Geftakys has some really nice music out at the moment, and I hope to get to it very soon. And did I mention he is pretty damn hot for a straight boy? For more about David Geftakys, you can check out his official website here or on Twitter here.

Strange • David Geftakys For The UK

Singer/songwriter David Geftakys might be based out of Los Angeles, but he certainly is aware of the world around him. Inspired by the the tumult in the world, as we are hit with a barrage of news about wars, economic upheaval, and riots in the UK, Geftakys wrote and recorded Strange and posted it.

David says in the description of the clip, In a world where kindness and love are less and less common, and where that which is sacred becomes that which is forgotten, it is more important than ever to resist the trend, to be different. It is good to be the one who is strange. This song asks, are you strange? This video remembers the UK riots and is dedicated to the victims, and those who have stood up to protect and help heal.



I will be posting about Geftakys again soon, but thought this was the time to post Strange. You can check it out on YouTube here, leave a comment or send it to your friends to watch. For more about David Geftakys, you can check out his official website here.