Frequently, music critics hail the efforts of extremely talented, overlooked artists as "greatest unknowns" and if ever there was such an artist, Jon Thwaits certainly is he. Jon and I have been playing music together for over 15 years and during that time, I've watched (and marveled) as he has developed as a songwriter. His music has a depth and range to it that you'll notice immediately in this first collection, but even more poignantly as we release each EP. Jon loves to rock, and you'll hear that here too--but his songwriting is tight and his stories have a remarkable color and intimacy. Most of all, these EPs establish Jon as a professional of his craft.
As you can probably tell, I am Jon's biggest fan. The first time we met, he had a guitar in his hand and our friendship has played out over the years around that instrument. It is now my pleasure to curate these EPs and to do what I can to share them with a larger audience. I know that you'll enjoy them as much as I do and hope that you'll share them with your friends.
Our aim is to, first and foremost, get these songs out so that you can enjoy them. However, we have a second agenda in mind and we need your help with it. We will be releasing a total of 25 songs over the next several months--one EP a month--and we'd like to get your opinion on your favorite songs. Once we have an idea of the 10 (or so) best/favorite songs, we hope to collect them (and possibly rerecord them) for an official album release--one that we can sell on iTunes and maybe even market to some indie labels.
To the right of the screen you'll notice a poll of songs on this EP release. Please listen to the songs and then vote on your two favorite songs (the poll will let you vote for more than two, but control yourselves, people). Then (and this is an important part) tell your friends! The songs are free and the poll is fun! It's just a tiny bit like American Idol. The poll will be available for about 30 days or until the next EP is released.
Ladies and gentlemen, I give you American Idle by Jonathan Thwaits (right click, save link as).
(Each song has some additional information about its original recording date/purpose embedded in it as meta-data. When you have them in your iTunes, right click and select "more info" if you want to check that out.)
9 comments:
I don't know Jon Stone, we might have to battle it out over the "biggest fan" of Jonathan Thwaits title ;) I'm so glad that you guys are doing this- I definitley agree that his songs need to be heard by more people- and I'm so glad that he has such a good friend and motivator in you :)
I thought about it--in fact i even had the qualifier "except maybe you, M" in there--but then I figured, eh, I've been hanging out with him longer.:)
I'm totally posting about this on my mommy blog; we'll see if we can get these great songs out there far and wide, all the way to...other mommies. hmm... maybe my help isn't so helpful at all?
Michelle, you should know as well as anyone that our primary audience is(and has been for years) mommies.
(I removed the last post because the grammar of this response gets a little tricky: is and has or are and have?)
I thought you might say that, but I have actually known him longer... ;)
I didn't say "know" I said "hang out"--I actually considered "dated" but that wasn't quite the word, even if it was funny.
If my calculations are correct, you were busy painting your bedroom or standing six inches away while he and I belted out anthems of no-chicks-dig-me together at the Sauna.
And... I heard his songs first--ha! so I'm the biggest fan. :)
But have YOU had his children?! HA, I rest my case! :)
Well...just so ya'll know...I am Jon's oldest, single, boobless, white-lady fan. And, no, I have not had his children (that I can recall, anyway), but I still think all the rest of that description puts me in a class all by myself. So, when that first album gets a label, I expect tickets to one of the big promos (like SNL, Letterman, Conan, or other similar venue). Just so ya know.
Jon...you are an amazing talent. And thatz all I have to say about that.
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