Soot and Stars
I AM SOOT!
Wakey! Wakey! is a group fronted by songwriter Micheal Grubbs! The sound is like Five For Fighting with a darker, odder, more theatrical side and while it still contains the sweet balladry of FFF it's a little less radio ready and more alternative. I love how the music is mostly orchestrated pop with weird corners taken within the album. The singer is a character on the One Tree Hill show in which his music has been used for the show. I've never seen a single episode of the show and likely never will but apparently it has some great music attached.
The album I bought is also the name of a One Tree Hill episode.
Almost Everything I Wish I'd Said The Last Time I Saw You....
It was the following song here that grabbed me to buy the album! Here's what I wrote in my journal when I first heard this song!
"This song has all my favorite elements in one package! Great emotional vocal dynamics, male/female harmonizing, piano, orchestrated pop (sweet violins) and a build to a great climax)! I must find more from this artist! I love this! Also, the car crash theme relating to a breakup and the "at least you were thrown clear" line is brilliant! I mean seriously, who has not been in a relationship or had feelings for someone where they felt they got the worst of it even to the point where it seems the other was unaffected at all!"
Car Crash
Almost Everything
(a vibrant nicely orchestrated feel good song, in the live vid you can see what a full band he has)
The Oh! Song
(Cool chorus in this one)
Take It Like A Man
(I love this one! It's crazy, schizo, beautiful and theatrical all in one)
Here's a live version of the above:
I think if anyone gives this a fair listen and likes singer songwriters with a different twist they may find this artist a hidden gem!
I've never heard of these guys but when you mentioned "Five for Fighting" I have heard of them! Yes a little darker, but kinda similar in some way (yes and no) "Car Crash" wow what a mega song with many layers. A beautiful song with the piano and violin complimenting each other and also the girls voice! But the song is taking ages to load (damm slow net) Thing I found heart felt is his lyrics and description. But this song gets better towards the end, with the instrumentals! (PEOPLE LISTEN TO IT)!!!!!!
Just gotta say "Take it like a Man" just set the scene for some on stage theater musical! But the more it went along, it lost a little of that theme but then it comes back 
