Brett Gleason • Futile & Fooled

I couldn't be happier to discover Brett Gleason has another music video out in support of his eponymous full-length debut. The video features the song "Futile & Fooled", a song first included on the EP 'The Dissonance'. It was there I first fell in love with the song, in the demo form. The sound has a layered and textured feel, a Progressive Rock song that effectively combines emotional Rock with Jazz progressions and flavors, as well as the throaty sound of Gleason's voice. When it all comes together, it creates something glorious, which I find irresistible. This is Brett Gleason in the music video for "Futile & Fooled".

I once said this song made me think Brett was the lost lovechild of Frank Zappa and Robert Smith (of The Cure), who had Allen Ginsburg as a nanny. Add a little Miles Davis to the mix, and, well, you get the idea. You can purchase 'Brett Gleason' from iTunes, Amazon, and BandCamp. For more about Brett, you can check out his official website. You can also 'follow' him on Twitter and Tumblr, and 'like' him on Facebook.

Brett Gleason • I Am Not

The first song I heard by rocker Brett Gleason was "I Am Not", and I have been hooked on his music since. The Brooklyn-based songwriter had carved out a sound, a style, that was part Progressive Rock, part Alternative, both served with a big helping of heart and soul. All of the songs on his first EP, 'The Dissonance', had such a a strong core, I was quite excited when I head Brett was going back in the studio to rerecord those songs, as well as those on his second EP, 'The Thawing'.

I was also pleased to see Brett reworked his music video for "I Am Not" with the new new version off his self-titled full-length album. There is an added depth to the song, and it works so very well with the horror theme of the video. There is a strong inner dialog with much of Brett's work, and this video captures that so very well. I hope you enjoy Brett Gleason's "I Am Not" music video.

It still remains a special song for me, and not just because it was my 'first'. There is something about the song I find intriguing, no matter how many times I hear it. And I do that often, listening to Brett's album on my iPod. Recently, he kept me company as I was cutting the grass. You can purchase 'Brett Gleason' from iTunes, Amazon, and BandCamp. For more about Brett, you can check out his official website. You can also 'follow' him on Twitter and Tumblr, and 'like' him on Facebook.

Brett Gleason • Full-Length Debut

What an exciting time today. You can now purchase 'Brett Gleason' by Mr. Gleason, the rockin' New Yorker. I am truly excited to share it with you, for I will admit I've had it for a bit. I had so much faith in Brett, I was a part of his Kickstarter crowdfunding project, and I am happy to tell you my investment paid off. You see, not only is Brett a handsome young man, he is also a talented musician with something to say. I have enjoyed his EPs, and I have also been impressed by his articles on Huffington Post. There is much to admire about this man.

'Brett Gleason' a combination of Brett's two EPs, 2010's 'Dissonance' and 2012's 'The Thawing'. For both those collections, Brett recorded the songs he wrote, playing all instruments and laying down the songs in his home studio, much like demo tracks. With the eponymous album, Brett has gone into a professional studio with a producer, giving the songs new life and new sounds. There is a new richness to the songs, as can be heard on the first track, "The Worst Part". Originally found on 'Dissonance', the new recording has added depth and strength. I talked about the first official music video shot for the album last week, and you can find the post for "Imposter" here. Earlier, Brett had released the music video for "Calculated" with the new track. You can listen to the track on this music video.

"Destruction" was the lead cut off 'The Thawing', and I enjoyed it greatly, But with the re-imagining, I think there is a stronger feel, and a greater crispness that serves the song well. I must admit, when I saw the music video for "I Am Not", I knew I was hooked on Brett's music for life. There is a wonderful honesty to it, as well as the exquisite musical progression that I found instantly irresistible. The new recording has a tightness that only intrigues me even more. "Polarity" was off 'The Thawing', but this new recording has a resonance that I just love. It really accentuates the experimental feel of the song. The seventh track is "Unruddered", and I feel the new version really pumps up the contrast. You can hear the new "Unruddered" for yourself.

Next up, we have the title track for the 2012's 'The Thawing'. The 2014 rendition is somehow both smoother and more discordant, and I don't know if I could love it more. "Futile and Fooled", the nineth track on the 10-song collection, was an instant favorite when I first heard it, and this recording only brings it closer to my heart. There is the improvisational feel of Frank Zappa, the smoothness of Emerson, Lake and Palmer, and the psychedelia of King Crimson, all while sounding just like Brett Gleason. The album closes with "Idealize the Dead", which manages to be both dark and reverent, not an easy task. This one gives me a Moody Blues kind of feel, yet still fresh and new. Perhaps that is one of the reasons I love his music, for it allows my inner Rock geek to come out and play, and not to fear getting beat up by the straight boys. I can, and often do, crank it up on my iPod, and let Gleason transform my mindscape to places and textures I haven't imagined before. You can purchase 'Brett Gleason' from iTunes, Amazon, and BandCamp. For more about Brett, you can check out his official website. You can also 'follow' him on Twitter and Tumblr, and 'like' him on Facebook.

Brett Gleason • Imposter

Brett Gleason is less than a week away from releasing his first full-length album, and to get us all ready, he has shared with us the first music video shot for the occasion. It features the song "Imposter", and it offers a vision of Brett's work by director William Murray. The video is shot in a stark black & white, With that in mind, when the screen splits I cannot help but think of the age-old struggle of yin and yang, visiting the duality of our personalities, and how there are parts of us that are so much alike, while other parts could not be any more different. So check out the inner struggle of 'Being Brett Gleason', where I think Brett exposes a bit of himself, and if I am not mistaken, we get a sneak peak of his 'Id'...

The album 'Brett Gleason' will be available on May 6, 2014. You can pre-order it from iTunes, Amazon, and Bandcamp. In fact, if you order it from Bandcamp, you will get a track now, and not have to wait until May. For more about Brett, you can check out his official website. You can also 'follow' him on Twitter and 'like' him on Facebook.

Brett Gleason • Re-Calculated

As Brett Gleason prepares to release his full album debut, he has released his music video for the single "Calculated", including the new production of the track you have yet to hear. The song invites you into the mind of the Brooklyn-based singer/songwriter. There is a certain crispness to the new track, which adds an edge to the fullness of the orchestration. This is our introduction to the new take on the music, which had previously been released in demo form for EPs. This is the new sound for "Calculated".

The album 'Brett Gleason' will be available on May 6, 2014. You can pre-order it from iTunes, Amazon, and Bandcamp. In fact, if you order it from Bandcamp, you will get a track now, and not have to wait until May. To learn more about Brett, you can check out his official website. You can also 'follow' him on Twitter and 'like' him on Facebook.

Brett Gleason Talks About Going Full-Length

When I saw out and proud rocker Brett Gleason had begun a Kickstarter campaign, I knew I had to be a part of it. First, I am a fan of his music which is always an important factor for me. Second, he is also a great guy, someone I was very happy to finally meet at a recent show. And last but not least, I not only really like his music, I am a fan of the genre. I've been a a Rock fan for many years, but couldn't help but notice that with very few exceptions, there were not many LGBT being heard. So when I first heard and saw "I Am Not", I became excited. And Brett has maintained my interest and excitement since then, with two EPs and every demo I could listen to. With just over a week left to go with his Kickstarter campaign, I asked Brett a few questions about life as an independent musician, and the intricacies of crowd funding, and more.

S2MD: Could you tell me a little about 'Full Length'? We know it will include songs from both EPs, 'The Thawing' and 'The Dissonance', but will there be new songs as well?

BG: My EP’s were meant to be demos; I recorded and mixed them in my bedroom, performing every instrument myself but with the implosion of the music industry I realized I was going to be alone and decided to start releasing on a small scale so when I was finally ready to invest in a proper studio record, I would have an audience waiting and my own sound developed. I’ll be taking those earlier recordings out of circulation, as this will be my first official, debut record. With a live drummer, cellist and seasoned producer, this LP will have a much bigger, more dynamic sound. I’m writing newer material but it’s so different I’m saving it for the follow up and using this opportunity to perfect the piano based electro rock I’ve been working so hard on.

S2MD: How does having a Producer change things? Is there more or less pressure while in the studio?


BG: Having a proper producer means I have another brain, heart and highly trained set of ears next to mine. I’m a competent engineer but aside from not having state of the art equipment at home, I don’t have the experience and skills to always get the sounds I’m looking for nor do I have as expansive an ear as someone who makes diverse recordings for a living. A lot of what I’ve released was a compromise between what I heard and what I could make. There will be no compromises this time.

In January of 2010, Brett released the music video for "I Am Not", the song first found on his EP, 'The Dissonance'. The dark imagery was perfect for the song, and Brett's startling good looks translated very well in the medium. It was the first exposure to the artist, and I will admit I quickly went to iTunes to make 'The Dissonance' a part of my music library. Here is the music video for "I Am Not".

S2MD: How has crowd funding changed things? Is it one more 'social media' vehicle or one more skill needed for the independent musician?

BG: Crowd funding is necessary for the independent artist, especially a solo one like myself but it’s just a tool and it’s up to the artist to use it effectively and responsibly. So many artists think you just post it online and it magically gets funding but it’s a lot of work. Aside from posting and tweeting about it, I’m personally writing all my fans and asking them to help. More than time consuming it’s emotionally daunting. Most people say no, a few say yes and some delete you from FaceBook.

S2MD: And as people get on board, how does that feel? Does it create more pressure, or more confidence, allowing you to grow as an artist?

BG: It’s an amazing feeling. Not just because it brings me closer to making the music but because it’s a concrete showing of support. Only a very small percentage of fans will ever reach out and tell me what my work means to them so when they back the record, I know it – and when I write to thank them, it begins a personal dialogue that inspires and motivates me. So far, 123 people have chipped in and I feel so much less alone, like I really have people to whom this matters.

In November of 2012, Brett released his latest music video, featuring the song "Calculated" off 'The Thawing' EP. While maintaining some of the dark nature of "I Am Not", there was a level of delicacy and intricacy in "Calculated", and it is reflected in the video.

S2MD: How do you come up with the 'perks' for the pledges?


BG: I think of what I would want and try to keep it intimate; the fun of crowd funding is the kind of access to the artist and creative process that it should bring along with it. It’s also important to keep the pricing lower than what it would be on sale to the general public and get it to them before anyone else. Backers are VIP’s.

S2MD: How does 'Full Length' fit in the arc of your musical journey?


BG: ‘Full Length’ is the culmination of almost a decade of experimentation that led to a fusion of styles, genres and sounds. This is the first chapter. Everything else was the prologue.

I hope that answered any questions you might have about 'Full Length' you had for Brett. If it hasn't, I am sure Brett would be more than glad to answer himself. You can check out his official website, and also find him on the social media sites Twitter and Facebook. You can also visit his Kickstarter page, where you can read more about 'Full Length', and also see the list of perks you can get by participating. They included download of his four singles for just a single dollar, to electronic downloads of both his EPs with just a $5 pledge, to autographed CDs and posters, and so much more. You can click on the graphic below to get to the Kickstarter page, and find the options for yourself.

Brett Gleason & Jana Fisher

I thought this was the perfect opportunity to give you all a taste of what I was happy to have had the chance to partake and enjoy, and evening of music with the wonderful Brett Gleason and the lovely Jana Fisher. It is the right time, as tonight I am so pleased to be at a special show in Washington, DC, featuring Eric Himan and Tom Goss! So one live treat deserves another. While I am still working on getting by pictures and videos together, I thought offering you an overview of the performances of the performances at MilkBoy Coffee would be in order. And I will start with the performance of Brett Gleason, whose music has fascinated me since I found his first EP, 'The Dissonance'. I love who he structures his music, with layers that fold together much like origami. Brett makes Rock music that is built like Classical, with elements of Jazz and Pop. I was just so excited to finally see him play live, and I was certainly not disappointed. Here is my take on the show, or 'Brett Gleason Live In Concert In Less Than 4 Minutes'.

I was introduced to the music of Jana Fisher by Gleason. He often referred to her as his bestie, and the one who made the booking to bring Brett to my neck of the woods. I would describe her music as more traditional Folk/Pop, personal songs written from the heart that describe this human journey we are all on. Take this opportunity to enjoy one man's view of "Jana Fisher Live In Under 4 Minutes".

For more about Brett, you can find him on his official website, on Tumblr, 'like' him on Facebook, or 'follow' him on Twitter. For more about Jana, you can find her on her official website, 'like' her on Facebook, or 'follow' her on Twitter. I hope you enjoyed this abbreviated look the night, which was great fun. And as a reminder, support live music when you can!

Brett Gleason • Calculated Music Video

Brett Gleason has released the second music video from 'The Thawing,' as the music video for "Calculated" hit YouTube earlier this morning. It, of course, features the handsome singer/songwriter Gleason as we follow him from waking up to his taking care of his morning ablutions; from the office to venturing out on his inline skates. As we got through the machinations of his day, we also hear the inner thoughts as he proceeds, the methodical calculations as the clock keeps ticking, time moving forward. Oh, hell, watch it for yourself!

"Calculated" can be found on his latest EP, 'The Thawing'. You can purchase 'The Thawing' from iTunes, Amazon, CD Baby and Bandcamp. The Maxi-Single featuring the "Calculated" remixes is available on Bandcamp. To learn more about Brett, visit his official website. You can also 'follow' him on Twitter, and tell him ho much you love the video.

Derek Bishop • Take Him Away Video

Scenes from the video for "Take Him Away," the latest from Derek Bishop.

Singer/songwriter Derek Bishop has released another video from his excellent debut album, Resistance Is Beautiful. "Take Him Away" is the third video off the album, and you can read my review and see the first two videos here. This video, like the first, retains the charm of a 1920s movie, while telling a story of intrigue and just a bit of mayhem. And it certainly doesn't hurt that Derek is a handsome man, but even better, he makes some great music. I also have to add as I was watching the video, I thought I recognized the piano player, but soon as he was seen shirtless, I was sure it was Brett Gleason. I think I should be a bit embarrassed to admit that, yet I am not. Enjoy the video.



OF course, it was Brett who first introduced me to Derek's music, so that is a great big full circle, isn't it? To purchase Resistance Is Beautiful or "Take Him Away," you can find them on iTunes, CD Baby, and Amazon. To learn more about Derek Bishop, visit his official website. You can also follow him on Facebook and Twitter.

Brett Gleason • The Thawing Released

Have you been wondering when you can purchase the latest release from rocker Brett Gleason? Well, my pretties, the time is now. Finally, after a long wait, Brett Gleason's new album, The Thawing, is available for purchase. The five-song EP kicks off with Destruction, the first single. The startling and textured song features song progressive rock layered with jazz riffs, part Emerson, Lake & Palmer, and part Thelonious Monk. Check out the video for Destruction.



That is followed by Unruddered, a that ramps up the density, feeling almost operatic in structure, but the sound is pure rock. When Calculated kicks off, it showcases a strong melody line, once again blurring the line between Rock and Classical. There is a feeling of being seared by the darkness, but only if you pause to bask in the fire. Polarity is a brooding and moody song, shifting gears and tempos often, smoothly transitioning with ease. The beginning of The Thawing puts me in mind of a wind-up musical mechanism, seeming a bit simple on first listen, only to discover the great depth on a second playing. Quickly, the song shifts into a melancholic mood, weaving a tuneful air that takes slick twists and turns.



The Thawing is different from the 2010 EP, The Dissonance, with an added melodic sophistication. There is also less apocalyptic darkness, and more brooding contemplation. For more about Brett Gleason, you can visit his official website. The Thawing in now available on iTunes, Amazon, CD Baby, and Band Camp. If music that moves effortlessly between sweet melodies and bombastic rock, then The Thawing is waiting for you.