"Breathe it in and breathe it out
And pass it on, it's almost out
We're so creative, so much more
We're high above but on the floor"
"Not an Addict" is one of the best songs to come out of the 1990s. It really is. Given the time in which it came out (1995), it struck a chord lyrically for those still reeling from the loss of Kurt Cobain, Shannon Hoon, and Bradley Nowell. Wrenching words aside, it's a sonic masterpiece that has held up as well as Sophia Loren's breasts. K's Choice, the band behind it are arguably best known for that track, but there's "so much more" to them. Go back and listen to Paradise in Me and you'll find "Not an Addict" isn't even the best song off the LP. Oh, and it's not like they stopped there. They've released some great stuff in the 2010s.
Speaking of which, K's Choice (Belgian brother/sister duo of Sarah and Gert Bettens) just released a new full-length album The Phantom Cowboy and it has some giddy-up. Produced by Alain Johannes (Queens of the Stone Age, Jimmy Eat World, Chris Cornell), the album is a full-on rock record that captures the best of what the duo put together in the mid-90s and throughout the 2000s. At Primary Wave's A-Sides Studio, they performed a pair of new tracks and talked of "Addicts" and "Cowboys."
"The Phantom Cowboy"
To watch K's Choice's exclusive A-Sides performance of "Bag Full of Concrete"
and interview, click here.
Singer/songwriter Hemming also has a strong connection to the 1990s alt-rock scene in that she opened up for Chris Cornell at recent engagement at Beacon Theatre in New York City. The Soundgarden/Audioslave frontman handpicked her to open for her after he heard songs off her self-titled debut album. The album, which was produced by Midas songwriter Linda Perry, is rich in honest and raw, rock-meets-pop tunes that evoke Liz Phair among others.
Late last month, Hemming, who has also toured with Rachael Yamagata, chatted about Cornell, her music, and performed a pair of songs at Primary Wave for A-Sides. Here's a bandwagon. Go jump on it. She's great.
"Gone"
To watch Hemming perform "Some of My Friends" and discuss her craft, click here.
About A-Sides with Jon Chattman: Jon Chattman's music series features celebrities and artists (established or not) from all genres performing a track, and discussing what it means to them. This informal series focuses on the artist making art in a low-threatening, extremely informal (sometime humorous) way. No bells, no whistles -- just the music performed in a random, low-key setting followed by an unrehearsed chat. In an industry where everything often gets overblown and over manufactured, Jon strives for a refreshing change. Artists featured on the series include Imagine Dragons, Melissa Etheridge, Air Supply, Joe Perry, Alice Cooper, fun, Bleachers, Charli XCX, Marina and the Diamonds and Bastille.