Two Chanukah Remixes from Acapella Groups

Here are two videos of secular music turned Jewish. One is The Maccabeats singing "Candlelight" which is a take off of "Dynamite". Two is Six 13 singing a compilation of songs for NCSY called "I Light It". Included in the medley is "Baby", "Heartless", "I Like it".

Note: The NCSY video does not only have men in it, if this offends you, don't watch it.

Guest Review Coming Soon

Soon, I will have a review of Miami's Soloist album "Hissorerus". The review will be done by a very special reviewer which will be revealed at the time of the review's release. :)

Duty or Intrusion?

I was at the local Judaica store the other day and as always, I headed to the music section of the store. I browsed all the new titles and all the old ones. Looked at sales. Played the "guess which covers were designed by Sruly Meyer" game (it's usually the good ones). And just zoned out in that section for a while. It was like, my section of the store. My sacred place.

Anyway, another customer was browsing at the albums with the store counterperson and was asking for a good album to buy, being that they are just starting to listen to Jewish music. I think the customer wanted a good "fast" album. The counterperson admitted that they didn't know which was the best per say, but they pointed them in the direction of two albums, which, if I were a newcomer to Jewish music, would turn me off. The customer then proceeded to buy the albums and walked off with some terrible music.

Here's the question. As a Jewish music reviewer and someone who has some taste when it comes to knowing what to buy and what to avoid, should I have interfered and suggested a different, better album? Think about it, if you have a question about taxes, you go to your accountant, so if you have a question about Jewish music, wouldn't you like to here advice from an avid Jewish music fan and writer?

So here's what I came up with. Let's do this gemara (talmud) style.

If I were to intrude on the conversation, yes, I would be saving that customer money and the frustration of a bad album. However, by telling them that one album is better than the other, and then they go and buy the "better" album, aren't I taking possible earnings away from the original album the customer picked up?

What do I do? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Ever Wonder What A Kid Would Sound Like Singing That?

Have you ever wondered what a kid would sound like singing a Shwekey or Fried song? Well, thanks to Yerachmiel Begun, you no longer have to wonder. Begun has been working on this album for five years. I must say, the arrangements are fantastic and beyond my expectations.

Begun uses Miami soloists, Shaul Elson, Yair Kenig, Binyamin Ravina Abramowitz & David Herskovitz for these inspiring songs. I'm not sure about the soloists selections or about how many times each soloists sings, but I am sure that a lot of effort went into matching the voices with each particular song.

Miami Solo Album is a great addition to my musical connection and would be a great one to yours and your friends, so buy one for them! After all, Chanukah is coming up.

Shlock Rock Chanukah Concert

Torah Academy of Buffalo Grove presents Jewish Unity 2010 Hanukah Concert on Sunday November 21, 2010 at 3:30 PM. Starring Lenny Solomon of Shlock Rock and the Moshe Skier Band.

Shlock Rock is a Jewish Rock Band that teaches Jewish ideas through music using song parodies, original music in both English and Hebrew and children's songs. Lenny Solomon started the ball rolling in 1986 and since then the band has released more than 30 amazing albums! Shlock Rock has gone where no Jewish bands have gone before: Trivial Pursuit, Imus in the Morning, Newsweek, The Wall Street Journal, and Entertainment Tonite. Most important of all, Shlock Rock has gone straight to the hearts of Jewish families everywhere.

Lenny Solomon now resides with his family in Israel. Dr. Moshe Skier, one of the original members of Shlock Rock, has his own successful band. He lives and practices in Milwaukee, WI. The concert will take place on Torah Academy's campus located at Congregation Beth Am at 225 McHenry Rd in Buffalo Grove, Illinois (45 mins outside of West Rogers Park). This concert will be enjoyed by all - children, teenagers and adults. To purchase tickets please call 224-353-7791, visit the school's website at www.torahacademybg.com

We Await Thee O' Jewish Music

There's been a lot of downtime in the Jewish music industry. This time of year appears to be the great depression for Jewish music artists. Chanukah is usually the birth of new albums, just in time for people to make a new purchase as a chanukah gift to themselves or to an other. Regardless, there's some new music on the horizon, which we all pray will be refreshing and uplifting.

However, I don't want to focus on the new albums, let's recap on the recent releases.

Benny Friedman - Berachamim Single. The beautiful voice of Benny Friedman, a composition by the multi-talented Ari Goldwag and the gorgeous background vocals of Yitzy spinner. Yet, the best part is that buy purchasing this single, you are giving tzedakah to help the family of Ilan Tocker, a Cedarhurst, NY man who has a serious brain injury.

Shauli - Ahavta Otanu (click the flash player on the bottom of the screen). I previously wrote about the talents of Shauli. A composer, singer, arranger who put together his own album on a low budget, and still managed to sound great. He has some great compositions on his debut album, Simcha Bilibi. Well now, he's come out with a new single which uplifts the soul and warms the heart.

Everyone - Unity Single. What do you get when you take major voices in Jewish music and combine them together to sing a classic MBD song with a twist? You get the Unity single, like Benny Friedman's single, is only a dollar and benefits the fund to liberate Sholom Rubashkin.

Omek Hadavar - Mekor Chaim. We seem to have an addition to the alternative Jewish music scene. I haven't had the chance to listen to this album in its entirety, only the sample. If I would be blessed with a copy of the cd, I can give a review on what sounds like a great album.

Avraham Fried - Hu Yivneh. Nothing like the sweet and powerful voice of Benny Friedman's uncle, Avraham Fried. "In this song he comforts the sole survivor, Dotzi Gottstein, of the horrific car-train crash which killed his entire family".

Shmuel Mashiach - Shema Koleinu. Never heard of Mr. Mashiach before, but he kind of sounds like a cross between Gertner and Dovid Stein. He has a single available for $1.50. Listen and see if you like it.

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That sort of puts an end to the recent releases. Obviously, Shalsheles 5 and Dovid Gabay's new album were covered by the bigger sites and need no mini recap. On the horizon is Yisroel Werdyger's new album "Ashirah Vazamrah", which happens to be the only upcoming cd with a projected release date (11.22.10). I know that Pruzansky should be releasing an album soon as well. Rumor has it, it's entitled MP3 (michoel pruzansky 3). Nothing else to report really. Let's hope a lot more information is released on upcoming albums, and soon...