One eskimO

My husband was a college radio DJ. He loves music. He knows all music (at least it feels that way to me - I can sing along with a song and still not know the artist or the title).

I met my husband at the restaurant/bar where he was DJ-ing, he was a friend of an acquaintance. My roommate and I spent a few hours that evening talking to him and his friend. Of course, one of our topics was music. I had a favorite local-trying-to go-national band from Pittsburgh, the Gathering Field. I mentioned it to him that night. He hadn't heard of them. He went and checked out the music and liked it. I think that played a role in his interest in me and eventually led to us dating, marrying, having a family, and all.

As a music lover, he always seems to know about new music. He frequently listens to MP3s in his car and yet, he somehow knows all sorts of new music. I relish the opportunity to introduce new music to him, unfortunately, since the days of the Gathering Field, I haven't had luck in introducing him to music that he really likes.

When I was given the opportunity to check out the self-titled debut from One eskimO (that's right, the e is little, the O is capital), I thought maybe this was finally my chance. One eskimO is a critically-acclaimed English band fronted by singer-songwriter Kristian Leontiou and includes musicians Pete Rinaldi (guitar), Jamie Sefton (bass, horns) and Adam Falkner (drums). They currently have the #1 adult alternative song called Kandi. I hadn't heard it, but it has been the most played song on all adult rock radio 4 weeks and counting. I listen to more of a pop channel, so that is likely why I hadn't hear it.

Tracklisting
Hometime
Astronauts
Kandi
Slip
Simple Day
Givin Up
Chocolate
All Balloons
Chosen One
UFO
Amazing

The album is now available in stores and the group is currently on tour supporting the new album. They are touring with Michael Franit and also doing some festivals and headlining shows. Their album release comes in tandem with a full length animated film. “Hometime”, one of the tracks that an animated short was first done with proved to be quite a sensation. It received numerous honors at film festivals around the world, as well as a 2008 British Animation Award.

You can catch them on tour at the following locations:

May 14 Miami, FL Fillmore
May 15 Jacksonville, FL Free Bird Live
May 18 Orlando, FL House of Blues
May 19 Tampa, FL The Ritz Ybor
May 22 Raleigh, NC Lincoln Theatre
May 24 Asheville, NC The Orange Peel
May 25 Charleston, SC The Music Farm
Jun 01 Toronto, ON The Guvernment
Jun 03 New York, NY The Beach at Governor’s Island
Jun 04 Boston, MA House of Blues
Jun 05 Essex Junction, VT Camplain Valley Expo
Jun 06 Hunter, NY Mountain Jam Festival
Jun 08 Royal Oak, MI Royal Oak Music Thtr
Jun 09 Grand Rapids, MI Orbit Room
Jun 12 Memphis, TN Minglewood Hall
Jun 13 Kansas City, MO Crossroads
Aug 14 Denver, CO Mile High Festival

The album starts out great (although the intro to the first song felt a little random to me). Unfortunately, as with many albums, the strength of the song quality seemed to decline as the tracks progressed. Their sound is sort of airy. I felt like there was a bit of a Jack Johnson and a bit of James Blunt. I think Hometime, Kandi, and Givin Up were amongst my favorites. Kandi has a very catchy sound to it, I found myself singing along after only a few listens. Overall, it is an album I can listen too, but I have to say it's not likely to make it into my regular rotation. It is a nice sound and could work well as a backdrop during a dinner party or an evening of entertaining. And, well, my husband wasn't terribly impressed with them - he felt that there was nothing that stood out in their music and that are plenty of other groups of a similar niche/genre that are better.

Want to see/hear more for yourself? You can check out the video for their #1 hit "Kandi" or download a free copy of "Astronauts". You can also find the band on Facebook and their You Tube Channel. You can purchase the Deluxe Edition of One eskimO on iTunes.

Giveaway:

Courtesy of One2One and One eskimO, I have the opportunity to giveaway a copy of the self-titled debut album and a T-shirt to one lucky A Busy Mom of Two reader.


To enter: Leave a comment sharing your favorite band and how you first heard their music.

Giveaway will remain open until June 1st at 6 am. The winner will be selected using random.org and contacted by e-mail (please be sure you leave a way for me to contact you) and will have 24 hours to respond or a new winner will be selected.

No compensation was received for this post. One2One and One eskimO provided a preview copy of the One eskimO album for me to listen to and share my opinions. They also provided a copy of the album and a t-shirt for me to use as a giveaway for my readers.