Started writing for the new record recently. It’s been a minute since I’ve done a song but I wanted to post this so you guys could have some new JB to jam on for awhile!!! The new record is going to be a fun, upbeat one and I’m starting to love the direction it’s going in. Definitely re-visiting my roots on this new stuff. Hope you like this first demo / song

I watched you leave
So comfortably
The stories we had
You could throw em in the sea
I heard that you’ve changed
Every word I believed
I bet you’re doing fine
But everybody still thinks you’re mean

(Why did you do it?)
How could you play the game
And end it all without me

(Why did you do it?)
Your heart is taking off
The gravity won’t save me

Your love is fire
Burnin’ everybody down
The circus is over
No ring to run around
I wish you’d take it back
All the things that you said
I built it up, you broke it down
Just upped and left

(Why did you do it?)
How could you play the game
And end it all without me

(Why did you do it?)
Your heart is taking off
The gravity won’t save me

Mike Isberto is one of those under-stated gems that seems to always be around but just below the radar. The acoustic soul artist has developed a fair following on Youtube and now has a few EPs under his belt. That’s what brings us to this review. Last week, Isberto released The Last Train, a 6 song project that aims to position Mike as a more polished and refined artist – stepping out from his DIY independent roots. Is this a train that you should catch? Let’s find out!

Being an EP, it’s important that Isberto’s latest offering is calculated and efficient, making the most of the shortened tracklist. In short, he needs to make every song count. For the most part, he does just that – avoiding “filler” content and instead, delivering a streamlined and enjoyable release.

If anything can be said, it’s that the album is consistent – which is, paradoxically, it’s greatest strength and flaw. They songs stick to the proven formula of mid-tempo, acoustic pop-soul; imagine the more radio friendly fare of John Mayer or perhaps a male Colbie Caillat. “Don’t Know How to Be Alone” stands out for containing just a touch of grit in the lyrics, helping add some texture to Isberto’s otherwise gentle, clean sound. On that note, the opening and closing numbers to the EP, “Favorite Song” and “Always Been a Dreamer” each seem to have just a touch more of emotional investment, boosting the level of authenticity.

Conversely, there’s little to complain about regarding the other few tracks, save for the fact that Mr. Isberto can come off slightly detached. The other minor qualm is that the featuring artists weren’t so much guest vocalists, but rather, they played the role of a supporting singer(s). Their contributions were relegated to backing up Mike, which isn’t inherently a bad thing, just a minor waste of potential for recording magic. The biggest example of this is the title song, “Last Train” where we can barely pick out Cathy Nguyen and Nessa Rica.

So where does this release stand? It’s a undoubtedly very solid listen, enjoyable from beginning to end. That being said, the EP format proved to be a wise choice, because Isberto’s latest material lends itself to the risk of blending together with such little differentiating the songs from one another. Mike knows this genre is his bread and butter and is undeniably more polished than ever. However, he could stand to capitalize more on his guest talent and maybe pour out his heart just a little more often in the future.

Must Listen: Favorite Song; Don’t Know How to Be Alone; Always Been a Dreamer

a-Tunes Score: 8.5/10

Lyrics

How you doin’? You might not recognize me
but guess what that don’t even surprise me
lately I’ve been thru so much
but as you can see I ain’t lose my touch
somethin’ got me feelin’ so brand new
lookin’ in the mirror like “Who are you?!”
not brand new in a bougie way
I mean brand new cause I’m so cool these days
and my team is too
makin’ sure my visions a dream come true
just got another check time to make a deposit
then pick somethin’ fresh out of my closet

a brand new ‘fit some brand new kicks
you got yo camera then take some pics
you feel down well that’s okay
cause tomorrow is a brand new day (hey)

you know how I-I-I do
don’t worry ’bout me I’m-I’m cool
all I need is me and my-my crew
feelin’ like feelin’ like I’m brand new
you know how I-I-I do
don’t worry ’bout me I’m-I’m cool
all I need is me and my-my crew
feelin’ like feelin’ like I’m brand new

I’m brand new (hey hey)
I’m brand new (hey hey)
I’m brand new (hey hey)
I’m brand new
I’m brand new (hey hey)
I’m brand new (hey hey)
there’s no way you can’t see
you’re lookin’ at a brand new me

check it out yo here’s the game plan
if you feel brand new then this yo jam
put ya hands up all across the land
no need to trip cause you know we fam
I’m chillin’ so comfortably
in the midst of great company
guess what even if you don’t know me
all you need to know is that I ain’t the old me
and tomorrows a brand new day
as long as I got God every things okay
before the show I gota get right
keep it fresh you know just somethin’ light

a brand new ‘fit some brand new kicks
you got yo camera then take some pics
you feel down well that’s okay
cause tomorrow is a brand new day (hey)

you know how I-I-I do
don’t worry ’bout me I’m-I’m cool
all I need is me and my-my crew
feelin’ like feelin’ like I’m brand new
you know how I-I-I do
don’t worry ’bout me I’m-I’m cool
all I need is me and my-my crew
feelin’ like feelin’ like I’m brand new

I’m brand new (hey hey)
I’m brand new (hey hey)
I’m brand new (hey hey)
I’m brand new
I’m brand new (hey hey)
I’m brand new (hey hey)
there’s no way you can’t see
you’re lookin’ at a brand new me

I said you’re lookin’ at a brand new me

a brand new ‘fit some brand new kicks
you got yo camera then take some pics
you feel down well that’s okay
cause tomorrow is a brand new day (hey)

you know how I-I-I do
don’t worry ’bout me I’m-I’m cool
all I need is me and my-my crew
feelin’ like feelin’ like I’m brand new
you know how I-I-I do
don’t worry ’bout me I’m-I’m cool
all I need is me and my-my crew
feelin’ like feelin’ like I’m brand new

I’m brand new (hey hey)
I’m brand new (hey hey)
I’m brand new (hey hey)
I’m brand new
I’m brand new (hey hey)
I’m brand new (hey hey)
there’s no way you can’t see
you’re lookin’ at a brand new me

recording new mountain brothers song this friday. video saturday & sunday.—
CHOPS Onthetrack (@CHOPSmusic) May 28, 2012

OK, the above image is obviously an old picture, but if what Chops tweeted earlier today is true… we may finally be able to see an updated version. If you follow this site and don’t know about the MB‘s… then it would behoove you to do some catch up reading. I hope what Chops has announced is true and sees itself to fruition. It’s been too long since Triple Crown. Chops has stayed busy in the industry, mostly as a producer, but his two mountainous brethren have long since hung up their mics for more conventional careers. All I can say is, I. Can’t. Wait.

Do you guys remember the awesome proposal music video that Jason Min made for his then-gf, Carol? Well it’s been about 8 months since that time and you know what that means… they’ve gone through their preparations, called their families together, and made it official. That’s right friends, Jason & Carol were wed yesterday and we couldn’t be happier for them. Below you’ll find a picture of the festivities by a friend and fellow artist of Jason’s, Dave Bak.

Congrats and God bless, Jason and Carol!

Mr. Kero Uno is winding down the preparations for his next project, Color Theory, and has given it a tentative release date of “early July”. Kero made the announcement on twitter along with posting up the album cover, which you can see above. This will be the first major project since the web designer-turned-musician released Kinetic World back in 2010. We’re certainly looking forward to it’s release come July!

BOUT THAT’ by Derez

Directed by Bare Vision

BARE VISION
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bare-Vision/180271708732894
http://vimeo.com/user9257858
http://twitter.com/MusicByBlair

Book me for an event: derezbrown@gmail.com

CAST:
Derez Brown
Laris Smajic
Tom Conteh
Quincy Wento
Ali Gueye
Jerremy Robinson

CREDIT:
Producer: Flash

hello friends! i know it’s been a while since i’ve posted an original but i promise you, i’ll post more. this one is short and sweet but is very special! it’s a lullaby i wrote especially for two lovely precious angels who were just brought into the world: Makenzie Reese Bautista and Carissa Rae Tanabe

Seed nurturing
Blossoming in the spring
Patiently Waiting
For you to arrive
So while you grow
To something so beautifully
Praying til i see
You in these arms
My angel

Sown with intent
A date to expect
You were sent
Here from above
Made into be
The image of Thee
My baby
You are
Our gift from love
Our angel
My angel

yo i’ll be honest and i’ll be the first to say
that many rappers young and old ain’t really doing what they say
and i don’t understand why everybody loves that 808 bass
maybe ’cause it helps you put a mask on your face
so you the best, just like the rest
and you got that s-s-swag all the way up to your chest
i got to ask when you say that, who you tryin’ to impress?
let me inquire your dome, so listen up and take a rest:

what if you used your skill and talent to give life?
what if you sacrificed yourself and tried to end strife?
what if you used your rhymes to quell many tears cried?
what if your words carried light to open dimmed eyes?
what if you thought of music as a service to the world?
what if you thought of every hater as a precious pearl,
who needs love everyday, just like you do?
what if artists sacrificed their fame for higher truth?

i confess, i’m not a man, just a little boy
a product of my culture, i see values destroyed
i’m not okay with that, i want to make change
i want to use my music to serve, is that strange?
call me crazy but i weep for every artist
who sees the allure of fame and i see their heart get hardened
becoming conceited and benefiting nobody
fueled by insecurity and chasing after cold money

i hope that i’m not speaking out of pride, but of love
as a messenger of Jesus, savior above
if i make music my life, then it’ll fail me
so my mission is to tell the world what i see
if you’re an artist, i implore you to think it through:
are you compromising who you are for what you do?
i hope i’ve spoken to your heart a little bit of truth
…but you’ll do anything to save your pride, won’t you?