I don’t force people to join my ministry, but I will speak the word for those who listen. Today’s sermon: Francis and The Lights for 2010… 

If you know me at all you know I live with a fully stacked ipod, about 2 earphones and a constant thirst for all those notes that make me float. You know who I’m talking about: my beloved Kanye West, Soulja Boy, Freddie Mercury, Thom Yorke, I even get down with John Mayer and on and on and on. However, with the hiatus of Mr. West and the overly repettive “New York” single with A.keys and Jay-Z my music stream has been running on fumes. I simply have to revert to my never #fail 80′s Prince just to keep my santity…
Until now.

I present Francis and The Lights.

New Yorks finest- Francis and The Lights led by frontman Francis Farewell Starlite is my pick for 2010. A few months back, I came across this innovative band but I have to admit it took some time to figure out if I liked their style or not.

Suffice it to say there’s no denying the heavy Prince influence (electric piano, at times heavy instrumentation, computer sounds) that epitomizes FATL. Now I don’t know about you, but an artist is only as good as their live performance. And Mr. Francis Farewell Starlite has obviously been practicing James Brown moves in the mirror. I have yet to see him live yet but am already getting life from the band’s videos.

FATL’s first EP Striking released in 2007, is avaliable here followed by their sophomore album A Modern Promise dropped in 2008. And just like the rest of the world they’re apart of the blogsphere, filled with live audios and performances to make you a fan. Go check them out, before they start having Beyonce priced tickets.

“Striking” at the Fader Fort, SXSW from Francis and the Lights on Vimeo.

* Francis and The Lights