New Music Monday: Asaf Avidan

By Dave Sanford Published February 2, 2015

Gold Shadow cover As of today Asaf Avidan has never had a record officially released in the United States even though he enormously popular in his home country of Israel and around Europe. Before embarking on his solo career Avidan fronted Asaf Avidan and the Mojos. Before announcing an indefinite hiatus the band had albums that topped Best of the Year and went platinum throughout Europe. Avidan returned in 2012 with Different Pulses, which was critically acclaimed throughout Europe but never officially released in the United States.

Tomorrow, after four albums, Avidan’s new record, Gold Shadow, will be his first official release in the US. The music combines his pop sensibility, complex melodic arrangements, captivating lyrics, and signature voice to great effect. As NPR’s Bob Boilen noted “Billie Holiday and Janis Joplin and Bob Dylan are all in [his voice], but they add up to a wholly original sound.”

The music on Gold Shadow leans heavily toward the bluesy side of contemporary rock music with occasional excursions into folkier and more personal territory. The album’s first single, “Over My Head” delves into the personal side. Asaf explains that it was inspired by the relationship he has with his life partner. “It was the night when I put my old demons to sleep, and decided to choose life. ‘Till this day I’m amazed that she had the patience for my stupidity, and this is my way to say thank you … thank you for leaving the door open.”

“The Labyrinth Song,” one of Gold Shadow‘ folkier tracks, reveals the depth of Avidan’s songwriting abilities. Featuring only his voice and a guitar, “The Labyrinth Song” is a probing self-examination backed by a gorgeous melody. Asaf Avidan may not have yet released an album in the United States, but Gold Shadow will be an excellent starting point for American audiences.

Recommended Videos

Gold Shadow will be available for purchase through Amazon and the artist’s official site.

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Culture

March favorites: The best shows to watch on Starz

From Outlander to Party Down, these are the best shows you can stream on Starz

Outlanders

Since its inception, Starz has proven it can hang with larger competitors like Max. Although it's now making television in an incredibly crowded landscape, Starz has managed to regularly launch shows that make an impact, and it speaks to the enduring quality of these shows that they've also stood the test of time.
Because the streaming service is relatively niche, it can be hard to feel like it's worth the investment. I know from personal experience that, once you take the plunge and check out a few series on Starz, though, you'll realize just how deep the well of great stuff is. Any one of these shows would justify the price of a subscription.

Party Down (2009)

Culture

Discover the best Disney+ movies to watch this March

If you're a Disney+ member, stream these movies this month

Princess Bride

Disney is arguably the most iconic entertainment brand in the world. The company's properties, both original and acquired, combine to produce content that transcends age demographics. Disney has built a brand that's beloved by children, and those children eventually age into adults who introduce their kids to the films they loved when they were young. Disney's animation alone has made it iconic, but in recent years, the company has also acquired some of the biggest pieces of intellectual property there are. And with Disney Plus available on any device, you can watch all these movies whenever you want.

Between its acquisitions of both Marvel and Star Wars, there's a good chance that Disney is shepherding whatever you love to screens, both large and small. When it launched Disney+, the company was sure to fill it with both those nostalgic animated classics and plenty of new stuff as well. If, like me, you've ever felt a twinge of nostalgia for the Disney movies you loved as a kid, they're all there. Just as importantly, though, you can find movies that will resonate with you today in ways they didn't as a kid. Whatever you're looking for, you can probably find it on Disney+.

Culture

Your March viewing guide: Best shows on Paramount+ this month

Stream these incredible shows on Paramount+

Penny Dreadful scene

Having a vast library of good television shows and films is the most important factor in the success of a streaming service. That's part of what transformed Netflix into a global phenomenon, and it's why services like Paramount Plus have worked hard to build a healthy library of series that subscribers can browse through. As is the case with all streaming services, Paramount+ has a mix of original series that live only on the platform and older shows that were originally on broadcast and have now found a home on streaming.
Although these shows have varied histories, each one of them is a great staple in Paramount Plus's overall streaming library. Paramount+ might not seem like it has the kind of depth or variety that someplace like Netflix does, but trust me, once you dive in, you'll find that there are plenty of shows to watch and love.

Penny Dreadful (2014)