Artist of the Week- Florence & The Machine

The dog days of summer are quickly approaching. Obviously Florence & the Machine didn’t get the memo! They pronounced that the “Dog Days Are Over” on their first Ep released in April, “A Lot of Love A Lot of Blood”. The London-based redhead, Florence Welch makes you kiss her fist on her debut album “Lungs”, which is set to hit tha streetz on July 6. Welch, the 21 yr. old singer, looks a lot like indie singer A Fine Frenzy, but their sounds are polar opposites. Their single, “Kiss with a Fist”, could be a summer favourite (as the Brits would write). Kiss with a Fist is reminiscent of the Ting Tings hit, “Shut Up and Let Me Go” from last summer. Florence is getting rave reviews overseas, yet she has not really hit the scene over here in the U.S. She is scheduled to perform at the famous Glastonbury Festival on the John Peel Stage on Saturday June 27 and all summer long in Europe (too bad for us)! They are also set to open for Blur’s (another great band no one talks about) reunion show. This band hasn’t been around too long; as a matter of fact, they are just beginning. Anyone reading this blog is really hearing about a good band that is just starting to take off overseas. As a matter of fact, on her official website, Welch talks about how she just did a mini tour and it was the first one of her young career! This band is very raw! Florence has a haunting voice, maybe it is because she used to sing at funerals as a child (no joke)! Florence and the Machine are on their way, from being compared to Kate Bush to getting critical acclaim from the BBC, playing with Blur and most importantly being named Artist of the Week on ETS! Although I am giving her Artist of the Week based on a single Ep, that should show what I think of her as an artist and musician. Florence and the Machine definitely rock, but there is a uniqueness to Welch’s voice that allows her to sing a variety of different song types, such as pulling off the very Top 40-esque sound on “You Got the Love.” So this summer take a kiss with a fist; you might like it!