ZarUnity Music Forum

Introduction to Lush



Lush were two very talented songwriters, Miki Berenyi (lead singer, guitar) and Emma Anderson (backing vocals, Guitar) Phil King (Bass) and the very special late Drummer Chris Acland.

They were one of the most unique bands from the 90s and they were the very first band that I got into seriously. When I discovered Lush, on a random whim of genre research on the tag "Shoegaze", I fell in love instantly and you just might as well if you have never heard about them until now and you are already finding this introduction artist passage intriguing.

Without further ado, here are some great songs/music videos by Lush that will get you screaming and falling off your chair in big excitement!

First off, here is For love from their second album Spooky 1992 (produced by Robin Guthrie of Cocteau Twins!..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2F4aHdMxM0k

Now a very dreamy, hypnotic track also from Spooky..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBkMQsu2iwc

Also from their 1992 album, I bring you one hell of a fantastic shoegaze rocker tune, Superblast!..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKCTWreqR40


Now for something sweet and pretty, Sweetness and light from their first album Gala 1990 (a collection of previously released EP tracks)..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNkG3QFrM64


I could go on all night with this wonderful band but I'll just stop now and share one last great song that is probably their best song that they ever did!

Desire lines from Split 1994..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9tcEuUWuhc

If you have already looked threw some of my loved artists, it's probably no surprise to you that I mainly listen to and collect pop music. However, on a closer analysis, it can be revealed that the type of pop music that I usually go for is not the kind that you'd typically hear on the radio. Nor the kind of music that would appeal to a mass quantity of people like in the Top 40 billboard charts for example.

The kind of pop music that really appeals to me is the serious kind where the talent of the artist and the production assigned to them is a perfect marriage. The kind of pop that dares to be more original but is never selling out out of character or with good morals in order to make a bigger amount of quick cash.

I like pop that is generally semi-alternative but holds it's true roots in the mainstream makeup of production. I like lyrics that are cleverly written. A voice that is of top quality and that invokes a really colorful, interesting character within. A artist with enough sense to sing about subjects other than sex or break up winning songs on every single one of their songs.

I usually go for female singers as my favorite type of gender for vocalists. This isn't a sexist influenced preference but rather a special case of what I find works best for my music agenda.

I like artists that observe and tell stories of their life in a colorful and creative way. I love music with a big usage on keyboards because I love the sounds and multiple possibilities for nice touches in the atmosphere for good production. Little nice ideas buried in the background of the music that can really add a lot to the mood and nature of the song.

I can't stand most bad/weak vocalists and poor amateur production in music. Some people love this type of music and consider it to be art and that's fine for them if it's what makes them happy but it just annoys me and makes me feel like I'm really missing out on something that should be there that's absent.

I enjoy lots of music from the 90s. From shoegaze, dreampop, mainstream pop (and some r&b) to anything else alternative pop related that has a ethereal or dreamy soundscape of synthy production.  Especially 90s girl bands with a strong personalty-wise female singer! Some examples are Eve's Plum, The Darling buds and Lush.

Several artists from the 80s have also grabbed my attention as well. I don't listen to much modern pop music because it lacks something major from the production and vocalist quality that I except to hear if I'm going to like the artist at all. Everything is way too sexual and all about the rotten trends of what pop has turned into now so I avoid this stuff like the plague and just continue to enjoy, be inspired and discover new amazing artists from a more gentle world of where pop music has a real name for itself in my world. I go for music with real heart & soul to it. Music that is uplifting, magical and innocent.

My ultimate goal is to combine the major resources of the mainstream production in the pop world with the alternative aspects of pop music that is trying to be more serious and meaningful.

Giving pop music a better name for itself. Shedding the light on wonderfully creative pop artists that are very obscure, but shouldn't be.

We all know that the music industry is a cold environment and that life is unfair, so lets make it more of a pleasant place to live in by sharing and discussing information on real talent in pop that deserves to be heard by more people than it's getting.

Of course, this forum is only about artists that appeal to me and therefore will be limited to a certain kind of talent. I ask that you please respect my musical agenda and don't complain about the lack of artists that you believe should be included on this forum and instead accept discussing only artists that I approve of within this music forum.

If you have studied what kind of music appeals to me and you think you know of a artist or band that I'd like; please feel free to share on the recommend a artist to ZarUnity board. Please note that I will never be insulting to a artist recommendation that I essentially don't like and will only simply tell you weather I like the artist or not with a simple reason why the artist my not be to my liking.

Thank you for reading and taking the time to get to know me better and perhaps we can become good friends.

All members that join here are welcome to discuss anything that they wish, positively or negatively about any of the featured artists on this forum. I welcome good writers, general music lovers and music connoisseurs. However, this forum was created for a very special reason - to only discuss artists that I like, and nothing else. If that bothers you, you can simply leave and find a more broader music forum more suitable to your liking. There are hundreds out there.

Thank you fellow members and guests for understanding and please enjoy your stay.

Please note that every artist featured here has their own introduction for newbies topic to help you get starting being familiar with the given artist that interests you. If later on, you find yourself being a good fan (or already are), please feel free to make a fun topic about them and speak your mind. I love to hear about what folks have to say about the artists that I love.

Introduction to Alisha's Attic



Alisha's Attic are a very talented sister duo from the UK who make wonderful pop music with a unique style all to their own. The lyrics are very cleverly written and are told from a female perspective. The sisters voices are amazing, especially when they both sing together over each other. The production is excellent and always perfectly fitting to their world of girly pop with attitude.

There are many magical surprises to be found upon listening to one of their albums fully and they all hold great replay value. Meaning that their pop songs are carefully crafted with very memorable melodies and fun character.

Even though some might say that Alisha's Attic are only for teenage girls to listen to, I believe that their music should be heard by other age groups with a natural passion for good alternative pop in general. Because the music is made from the heart and by two girls with real talent, as opposed to one's who flaunt a fake style of talent just to make big piles of money. These girls really have something interesting to say and a special world to introduce you to.

Their first album was produced by Dave Stewart. The guy behind Eurythmics. D. Stewart was actually the one who discovered the sisters  and who helped them get started. The Poole Sisters had been trying to get a record deal for a long time.

The first song I'm going to share is called Indestructible  and came from their great debut titled Alisha rules the world 1996..

Indestructible]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EQZN3CwydI]Indestructible

The next song is I am, I feel from the debut album as well. This is a live sync recording from The top of the pops (A UK music entertainment show.)

I am, I feel]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NloIg-OZCTE]I am, I feel

Next is a elegant, dreamy tune from The house we built 2001 called Pretender got my heart which was featured in a movie.

Pretender got my heart]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmpA-cN4XaI]Pretender got my heart

The last song I will share is a beautiful relaxing tune with lyrics included called Aire we Breathe..

Aire we breathe]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXKhqwdTWGg]Aire we breathe

Introduction to Meja



Meja is a Swedish pop singer. The sound of Meja's music is always pop but each of her five studio albums except for her first two Meja & Seven Sisters (which have a more "organic" pop sound) have a different fresh and fun take on another kind of musical style. Like Mellow 2004 sounds like jazzy pop with a hint of bossanova. And Realitales 2000 plays on the genre of rock pop with some attitude and mystical undertones.

Her music is mainly popular in Japan only. It's a shame because Americans are really missing out on a wonderful and highly talented singer and artist. Meja's music isn't for everyone but for those that will find the following introduction songs appealing; she could really change your life for the better! She did mine! 

First off, if you have ever heard of her, All bout the money is probably the only song that you'd remember because of it being a hot single back in 98. It either annoyed the crap out of you (or will when you listen to it in a second), or you found it to be a wonderful fresh pop tune that could easily get stuck in your head for days. It's actually one of my favorite songs by her. I also think that the lyrics are great here and so true!

All bout the money]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUYdi43qXHc]All bout the money

The next tune was featured on a Xbox game called dead or alive Extreme Beach Vollyball. I never owned the game but it's probably the way that most people would know this song.

It's called How crazy are you?. From Meja's first album, self titled Meja 1996. One of my top favorite songs by her. The singing, the production. Everything is so great! Even the music video is really cool! Check it out..

How crazy are you?]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvPeCCWNqxM&feature=relmfu]How crazy are you?

Still here? Good.

Here is a great lyrical and fun upbeat tune with a magical sound called Pop & Television..One of my favorite songs EVER! From Seven Sisters 1998

Pop & Television]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uO4eyn__30Q]Pop & Television

This last tune is from Meja's third album Realitales and is called Spirits. The song sounds really different from the previous songs that I've shared so far. Realitales 2000 was her attempt at rock pop and I think she pulled it off very well. Enjoy!

Spirits]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSPMyYOo1DI]Spirits

You may post a topic here to recommend any artist to me that you think I'd like. Youtube links are permitted.

Another way is if you're already a last.fm member, you can post a shout to me on my profile there to recommend a new artist to me.

Note: I will NEVER speak about any artist that I don't like in a insulting manner. I will simply tell you if I like them or not, with maybe a simple reason why their not my cup of tea if I don't like them, or a simple reason why they might sound appealing to me.

If the artist that you share with me hits a big score and pleases me, I will let you know and I'll add them to my check list. If later on, I end of really loving the recommended artist's music, I may post a topic board for them here on the ZarUinty music forum!

AND..a big thank you, you will receive! 

Any artist that you see in my library on last.fm not currently on the boards for discussion yet, you may make a request here to have the artist added.

Please note: If the artist you are wishing to be added to the boards for discussion isn't even in my library in the first place, then you may make a recommendation in the appropriate section, NOT HERE.