Wes Carr • Anthem

It has been interesting to watch the evolution of the music of Wes Carr. I first discovered him when I saw clips of his time on Australian Idol, and I became a fan. I purchased his first album, a melange of Pop and Rock songs that seemed to fit him well. I was also there when he changed things up, and started performing beautiful and textured Folk Pop under the name Buffalo Tales. I still love listening to 'Roadtrip Confessions'. But what I soon discovered was that the evolution was not yet complete, as Wes is back, bringing the beautiful honesty of Buffalo Tales to the strong Pop of Wes Carr.

Wes just released his music video for "Anthem", and man, am I happy to hear it. There is a bold honesty in the track, giving the song a maturity, without losing sight of the youthful zeal of great Pop. Wes manages to combine the heart and warmth of his Folk with the energy of Rock, without shedding the extroverted boldness. For the music video, Carr adds another layer of danger when we watch a one continuous shot of him getting his hair shorn off, certainly a one-time opportunity.

There is a braveness captured on tape, which matches the heroic growth I've watched these past few years from afar with Wes. And there is something apropos about the process of exposing himself I find telling. To learn more about Wes Carr, visit his official website. You can also 'like' him on Facebook. I think you can pre-order the single from iTunes Australia, but not yet in the US. Once I know more, I will let everyone know. Until then, this video will get some playing!

Buffalo Tales • Diamonds

From Buffalo Tales debut album, 'Roadtrip Confessions', the song 'Diamonds' caught my ear right off the bat. The song was written by Sia Furler along with producers Benny Blanco, Mikkel S. Eriksen and Tor Erik Hermansen, and first recorded by Rihanna. The song was an international hit, going to #1 in at least 20 countries worldwide. Buffalo Tales gave it a beautiful acoustic treatment, making it light and airy, and just so damn beautiful. I also have long loved listening to the artist behind Buffalo Tales, the incredible Wes Carr, whose voice is amazing.

To learn more about Buffalo Tales, visit the official website. You can also 'like' them on Facebook, and 'follow' them on Twitter. You can purchase the debut album from Buffalo Tales, 'Roadtrip Confessions', from iTunes and Amazon.

New Albums from Levi Kreis, Eric Himan, Cheyenne Jackson, & Buffalo Tales Released

New albums featuring fresh material from Levi Kreis, Eric Himan, Cheyenne Jackson, and Buffalo Tales is now available online for your listening pleasure. I have been long awaiting for all of them to be released, so this is an exciting time, indeed. While I will have reviews of all four coming soon, I thought I would give the everyone the information to preview or buy them for yourself. So below, you will find links to listen and purchase the albums, and I would strongly advise you to do so for all four. From what I have hear so far, both Levi and Eric are producing their best music to date, while Cheyenne makes an impressive solo debut. And Aussie Buffalo Tales offers up some gorgeous guitar-driven music that makes me very happy.

Levi Kreis released 'Imagine Paradise', and it is now available on iTunes, Amazon, and CD Baby.

Eric Himan has released his 10th solo studio album when 'Gracefully' became available on iTunes and should be on Amazon soon!

Cheyenne Jackson shows the Broadway star is also a gifted singer/songwriter with the release of his solo debut 'I'm Blue, Skies', available on iTunes and Amazon.

Australia's Buffalo Tales, which features the talents of Wes Carr, releases their first full album with the beautiful 'Roadtrip Confessions' available on iTunes and Amazon.

Wes Carr • Lost

I have been a fan of singer/songwriter Wes Carr for a couple of years now, but I am not sure I have loved a song as mush as I do his latest effort, Lost. This bluesy, introspective touched my heart the first time I heard it on YouTube this week, and my affection for it only grows with every additional listen. His vocals are so pure and honest, I can't wait to hear a studio version. But first, here is a clip from a recent show in Bondi, Australia.



I have heard talk Wes will have a new album out soon. If this is any indication of the music on Lions, I want to be at the front of the line to purchase it! For more about Wes, visit his Facebook page, or follow him on Twitter. Until Lions is released, you can check out his album The Way The World Looks on iTunes and Amazon. The album includes the hit songs You, Feels Like Woah, Fearless, and Love Is An Animal.

Even More Great Singles from 2011

Clockwise: Anthony Callea, Brendan MacLean, David Raleigh, and Wes Carr.

In my final look at the singles from 2011, I couldn't resist checking out my friends Down Under. This group is made up of 3 Australians, and one American who splits his time between New York and Australia. The group is made up of three very sexy out gay men, and one very handsome straight rocker. All are talented musicians who made my life just a little bit nicer when I heard their songs.

I have been a fan of Anthony Callea ever since the first time I heard that amazing voice of his. I have run out of adjectives to adequately describe it, so suffice it to say I listen to it whenever I can. So, you can imagine my joy when he released a new single this year, Oh Oh Oh Oh. It is a dance tune, filled with vibrance and joy, and I still can't get enough of it. Watch the amazing video for Oh Oh Oh Oh.



You can purchase Oh Oh Oh Oh on iTunes and Amazon. You can also purchase the video on iTunes.

I was directed to listen to the music of Brendan MacLean by another musician, David Raleigh. As I have mentioned before, when I get a recommendation from another musician, I will listen. And this is yet another time I am grateful to Raleigh, for I love Brendan's music, with it's humor and zest. Watch his video for Cold And Happy from the White Canvas EP.



You can purchase the White Canvas EP on iTunes.

Wes Carr is another artist who captivated me the first time I heard his voice. And he is more than just the token straight man... I find his singing to be original and strong, just a joy to hear. Like Callea, I have ordered Carr's album's to be imported, since I just had to have them. This year, while I waited for a new album to come out, I was so pleased to discover he had a new single. Check out the new video for Been A Long Time.



You can purchase the Been A Long Time video on iTunes.

I just love David Raleigh pm just so many levels, and the first is the great music he makes. His piano-driven songs are just so melodic, so beautiful. And then there is that smile of his, it could light up all of Manhattan. And that is where he lives when he is not in Australia. While he released his great Beginning Again album in 2010, the latest single only recently premiered with a strong music video. Watch as he sings One Together.



You can purchase Beginning Again off iTunes and Amazon.

Wes Carr Plays Neil Young

Wes Carr is still keeping my infatuation with Aussie Singer/Songwriters strong with his amazing cover of Neil Young's Heart of Gold. The song, off the 1972 Harvest album, is just one of so very many great songs written by Young through the years. Wes recorded this cover on his computer, and put it on YouTube, where I just ate it up.



To find out more about Wes Carr, visit his official website here. While I can't seem to purchase his latest single, Been A Long Time, I can buy the music video on iTunes here. On Amazon, I can buy the delightful song in karaoke form, "in the style of Wes Carr." I am hoping for a new album, and hope it is easier to get than this other album, which I imported from Australia, and it took far too long to get to me. And I still am keeping my fingers crossed I might get to hear him playing live at some point...

Wes Carr Debuts New Video

Australian singer/songwriter/rocker Wes Carr debuted a new single, and I am really liking it. Been A Long Time beings with an almost acoustic feel, and then breaks into a chorus that reminds me of some of the great music by one of my all-time favorite bands from Down Under, Crowded House. If this is any indication of the music he is making, I can't wait for the album! Here is Been A Long Time.



For more about Wes Carr, check out his official website here. You can also find him on Twitter here and FaceBook here.

Driving That Acoustic Carr

Wes Carr is another of those tricky Australian acts I stumbled over while trolling the internet, and have been following since. There is a certain quality in his voice, a heaping teaspoon of rock with a twist of the blues, and a pinch of soul, that just intrigues me still. And in the following clip, he just seemed to be dripping with charisma, and I was unable to take my eyes off him. This is You, which I think was his first single.



I have also kinda come to grips with the fact I won't be seeing this Aussie performing all too often, if ever. And while I would like to think I will, I appease myself with good videos from other people who love the music, like they did with the following clip. Wes can pare it back and still deliver the goods. Take this acoustic version of the song he had written, Love Is An Animal.

New Follower - Raspberry Beret

Raspberry Beret, and a picture of her with Wes Carr.

I'd like to welcome a new follower, who is also kinda an old friend, even though we've never met. The internets make things all kinds of confusing, don't they? Anyway, Raspberry Beret is a smart and bright Aussie gal, with a love for "music, lollies and cocktails that contain mint and lime." Sounds like our kinda gal, don't it? Anyway, she is also a fan of Wes Carr, the brilliant Aussie rocker I have featured here several times. In fact, while I whined about not being able to get his latest album on Twitter, she stepped right up not only to tell me where to buy, but where to order it at the best price! Who can ask for more than that! After all, shopping in a distant continent is only made easier with friends like her. She has her own music blog, called Rock Around The Clock. Check it out here.

Now, it only seems appropriate to welcome her with a bit of Australian joy, the man himself, Wes Carr, singing When We Were Kings (Acoustic). This is a cut from the album she helped me get in, The Way The World Looks. It is a great album, and a cool song.



Enjoy, and give Raspberry Beret a big welcome!

Aussie Rocker Wes Carr

Here is Australian rocker Wes Carr, a sampling of his music. I caught the Gold certified second single from his debut album, Feels Like Woah, and I was hooked. I went back and checked out the Platinum certified first release, You, and that was it, I had to get the CD, The Way The World Looks, imported. Later, with the help of Lucy from the Wes Carr Hub, I also got The Way The World Looks/Under The Influence 2 Disc Set. So there we go. Enjoy some Wes Carr.

New Video - Wes Carr - Love Is An Animal

I am a little late with this post, but I really like the song a lot. Australian Wes Carr released Love Is An Animal a bit ago, but it takes a bit for me to catch up with the things going on Down Under. I just recently purchased his latest offering, The Way The World Looks plus Under The Influence EP. It is a long title, but it is essentially a re-release of his debut album with a second CD, with 9 more songs, including an really nice acoustic version of this song.



I bought the new CD/EP with the help of Lucy from the Wes Carr Hub Forum [@WesCarrHubForum], a buddy on Twitter. Got it shipped up from Australia, and am enjoying it on my iPod. For more about Wes Carr, you can visit his official website here.

Str8 Boys Need Love Too - Wes Carr

Wes Carr won Australian Idol last fall, and I didn't hear one thing about him until this past spring, when I ran across the video for one of his songs. And unlike the 2008 winner of American Idol, I really like Wes' style. His music was fun and sexy, and seemed like it was more about enjoyment than showing the world how damn clever he was [that is addressed to far too many rock musicians these days].



He was 26 when he won Idol, and seemed to have a clue about what he wanted because the CD is rather good. The Way The World Looks is a strong pop/rock effort, with Carr's strong bluesy vocals pulling most of the weight. The lead single was You, the winner's single from Idol. It charted very well, hitting number 1 in Australia. It was released on November 23, 2008. It is kinda sassy and sexy. That is the first one I saw. Click here to see it. That was followed by It Feels Like Woah [above] and Fearless, below. Of course, there is a bit of nonsense with the CD, including some covers of U2's Desire, the Beatle's Get Back, and a truly misplaced If I Were A Carpenter, all of which he apparently performed on the show.



Now, what is surprising is without ever seeing a single episode of Australian Idol, I now have 2 of those contestants I really enjoy - Wes Carr and the golden-voiced Anthony Callea. Now, they couldn't be more different, with rocker Wes and his throaty blues and Anthony, a young man with a gorgeous voice who could make me enjoy a recorded version of an Ikea manual. No matter, I like 'em, and hope there is more to come from both!



You can find out more about Wes Carr on his MySpace page. To give Anthony Callea another listen, see my post here.