8-Bit Heart, High Def Work (A Review: Simon Curtis - 8-Bit Heart)

Official Website: http://www.simon-curtis.com/
Follow Simon on Twitter: http://twitter.com/SimonCurtis

"There once was a boy who was made, not created. He wanted to learn. He wanted to indulge his senses, to understand pain. But most of all, he wanted to love. For only when he found true love would he become real."

With those opening words begin "8-Bit Heart": a beautifully twisted electronic fairy tale about a boy robot's search for true love in a world of humans who "complicate the word". An album released solely on the interwebs (for now, at least) just yesterday (03/24/2010) by a young (and completely adorable) young talent named Simon Curtis.

I admit that prior to my seeing it posted on a blog I frequent, Curtis' name was unfamiliar to me. While this is his debut album, he was the star of 2009 Nickelodeon musical TV movie "Spectacular".  For all you music prudes out there, don't let that fact taint your opinion! One listen to "8-Bit Heart" is all one needs to see that Curtis is not your cookie cutter pop star, and this album is not like your standard pop fare. 

In an industry and genre where there has been a waning focus on genuine talent over the last few years, the robotization of vocals has become almost expected. Sadly, many of the top artists out there can't deliver the goods in a live setting and as a result it seems electronic music and the art of vocal processing and production has gotten a bad reputation.

On "8-Bit Heart", the albums narrative seems to both demand and justify the use of heavy processing techniques on both the inventive (and sometimes unconventional) instrumentation and on Curtis' versatile character-driven vocals. (He is, the boy robot.)

The album's songs are solid; built on edgy beats that throb, pound and grind their way into your subconscious. Each track creates a new sonic landscape and though the album is cohesive as a set, none of the songs really sound alike. Vocally, Curtis is equal parts Darren Hayes and Blake Lewis. Lyrically, he often strays from the norm and a few songs are pleasantly disarming in their frankness. (Check out "Fell in Love With An Android" below; for the delicious diss "I hate to say it but I'd rather fuck a robot.")

Cementing the concept/narrative of the album, the tracks often contain tongue-in-cheek references to other modern pop songs (Britney's "If You Seek Amy", Kelly Clarkson's "Since You've Been Gone" and Gaga's "Bad Romance" are all referenced) and lots of homage to technology.

Curtis is equally comfortable on and off the beaten path as the tracks often vary in their audible proximity to all out radio-friendly pop and a more transgressive fare, showing that while he is certainly an artist he has a great pop sensibility. This is definitely one guy to watch out for!

Recommended Tracks: "Fell In Love With An Android", "Joystick", "Super Psycho Love" and "Don't Wanna Be Alone" (but I truly enjoy them all!)

"8-Bit Heart" is available now for free download at http://www.simon-curtis.com/

Get it while it's hot!!! 

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Good Tunes, Eh!? Great Canadian Music Pt. 1

Growing up, I was always a big fan of popular music. For those of us in small town, eastern Canada, it was standard to get home from school, sit through your mom's soap operas (remember Another World anyone?) and then tune into Video Hits on CBC while she cooked you supper. If you were lucky enough to have cable, MuchMusic was also a frequent TV passtime, at least before it started sucking and they actually played music videos, similar to the decline of MTV and VH1 in the U.S.

Later, when you had gotten ready for bed you would usually spend the early part of the evening with your tape deck, antenna and blank cassettes listening to the nightly countdown or request show on your local AM radio station while you sat, phone in hand, trying to get through to request the songs you wanted with your other finger poised directly over the record button.

Damn, those were the days.

For those of you that are stateside, let me say that while about 80% of our celebrity cannon is derived from American popular culture, we do have our own history of significantly less glamorous but equally as talented and wonderful Canadian celebrities. While I'm sure many of you are thinking of Anne Murray's and Bryan Adams' (Adamses.. Adams's, Adamsii....) and I hope to bring you a glimpse of the joy that those very talented folks brought to our poor provincial lives each and everyday through this recurring segment.

For my first profile, I decided to go with an artist who unfortunately is no longer in the limelight but she brought us many infectious and wonderful pop hits in the late 80's and very early 90's. Before you click on the jump link to learn more, I have just one last thing to say to all of you: You're welcome.

(Click here to read more)

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