December has been a slow month for new music 'round these parts, and a busy time of year in general. Thanks to Skybucket Records , though, today I had a chance kick back, relax, put my feet up and enjoy some new sounds from earlier this year that I missed, courtesy of Barton Carroll . Birmingham-based Skybucket Records trades in acoustic, americana artists that aren't over-produced, over-hyped, or just plain over-the-top. I know next to nothing about Barton Carroll, save for what the label's site tells me, and in truth, that's relatively needless information [...]
About six months ago, I strayed from the path of writing this blog. I weaned myself off quite quickly, and within... oh say... an hour, I was finished and felt alright about my decision. I had built a nice team of 20 or so writers. Then we all departed ways at the end of the academic year. We had all planned to continue, but it proved so difficult, and I wanted to simply just lie in the sun, pretending I didn't exist. Whe time came to head back to the campus we werent heading [...]
I am still in slowcore mood. In fact I have another list for tonite. Consider this Bricolage's permanent midnight week. No. 36 draws me slowly with texture then sneak lyrics like faded pictures. "when I left you alone to fight your battle in a long winter in hotel what went through your mind? does your husband know?" - Damien Jurado , What Were the Chances "Acoustic Wednesaday No. 36. It's still slowcore week." 01. Chris Garneau : Not Nice , Music For Tourists (Absolute Kosher, [...]
Six teams on the bye this week. I think I heard that it was the first time they've had that many off in one week. The NFL is doing it again next week too. It's murder on many fantasy footballers, but I somehow managed a huge day behind Tomlinson, Houshamazilli (championship!), Brees and Willie Parker. Detroit 20, Buffalo 17 The Lions finally got off the shnide! Big days by running back Kevin Jones and wide receiver Roy Williams finally got the Lions their first win. [...]
Billy Bragg has a second round of remastered discs available this week. Don't Try This At Home , England, Half English , William Bloke , and Workers Playtime all ave been remastered and include a bonus disc of demos and live materials. All four releases are available together in the box set, Volume 2 . The Annuals album, Be He Me , is released tomorrow, as are two Christine Fellows reissues, Last One and Paper Anniversary . The Sadies' soundtrack to Tales of the [...]
Woolly Leaves / Quiet Waters ( Outside ) Baby Eagle / Baby Eagle ( Outside ) In the past month there've been not one but two releases from solo Constantines, but anyone hoping for an extra dose of their sweaty rock will have to wait for the band's next proper release - the two projects from keyboardist Will Kidman and guitarist Steve Lambke are both gentle and [...]
You might recognize Barton Carroll from Crooked Fingers (or occasional player for Azure Ray, Dolorean, and Micah P. Hinson). It's time for the spotlight to shine on Barton's own songwriting and singing talents. On October 17th, Carroll is releasing his second solo work Love & War on Skybucket Records . His indie folk songs are the perfect combination of hauntingly beautiful melodies and thoughtful storytelling lyrics. Download : Barton Carroll Scorched Earth Download [...]
Mr. Eric Bachmann returned to town for the first time since a triumphant full-band April, 2005 set with his Crooked Fingers at Central Square's Middle East . Both the setting and the setup were drastically different this time around, with Eric touring on his fine " To The Races " solo album, bringing along two sidewomen to assist rather than the full-Fingers. The trio squeezed onto the tiny stage of the generally folk-centric Club Passim , just one stop down the Red Line from Central in Harvard Square. An [...]
Since 2002, Barton Carroll has toured and recorded extensively with Crooked Fingers, playing guitar, steel guitar, and upright bass. Carroll has also toured, playing various instruments with Azure Ray, Dolorean, and Micah P. Hinson. Barton Carroll's second solo work, "Love & War" will be released October 17th on Skybucket Records . A veteran of storytelling phenoms Crooked Fingers, and gunslinger for Azure Ray, Dolorean, and Micah P. Hinson, Carroll's own songwriting is forged of similar metal and yet has a brightness and wear all it's own. â€With a tambourine rigged to [...]
As time goes by, I find that it becomes harder and harder to find quality storytellers in music. Barton Carroll is one of the few exceptions. After touring and recording with Crooked Fingers, Carroll decided to develop his solo career with his second album, Love & War . With guitar in hand, Carroll delicately crafts engaging stories through a diverse musical array of acoustic and electric guitar styles. From teenage war refugees to mothers in times of financial depression, Carroll often uses characters from the past as a tool for musical creation. With [...]
CAN JOANN Can Joann are a new band from Chapel Hill, North Carolina. After releasing an EP in 2005, they now have a shiny new full length debut, Hurt People Hurt People. You have to think about that title for a second. It’s kinda witty. They’re playing the Durham Music Festival with The Mountain Goats, The Rosebuds, and Portastatic. Check ‘em [...]
Barton Carroll's new record is 5 years old so don't say I only ever write about new releases. The new/old record is simply called Love & War and comes out on Oct. 17 on Skybucket Records . Barton's best known as one of the key players in Crooked Fingers. As a solo artist he mines some of that groups psych folk but on a smaller musical scale. The ingredients of which are a quavering voice, finger picked guitar and surreal, often gothic (or perhaps Victorian) lyrics ("your eyes are cradled [...]
Detective Kalita - "Mary 16" I assume that you like Sherlock Holmes, and that, like Holmes, you value a simple, elegant argument above almost anything else. Now, Holmes doesn't need directions to Simplicity and Elegance, but for those of you who haven't been there yet, the quickest route is via Brevity (Ave.). Brevity is a particularly important virtue in the detective game (not Clue, but yes, also in Clue), as well as in the other game favoured by Phillip Marlowe (my favoured detective), chess. Marlowe always managed to be knee deep in a chess problem which acted as a perfect [...]
It seems that we've been playing six degrees of Eric Bachmann (that kind of sounds like Kevin Bacon if you say it real slow, right?) here on the hill lately. Barton Carroll is probably best known for playing every instrument under the sun for Crooked Fingers , but he's also put his touches on the music of the severely underappreciated, Dolorean . The black and white cover of Carroll's 2001 release, Love & War , is symbolic. Simple, plain and completely unpretentious; just like Barton. Love & War is [...]
I want to say something here that will make you take notice of the track below by the Portland duo that record and perform under the name Horse Feathers . The reason I want to say something inviting is that this is a song you need in your iTunes - or your iPod - or discman - or walkman - or car stereo. I would like to say something that would persuade you that this is not another run-of-the-mill quirky indie-folk throwaway, but something you might come back to time and again. Actually, maybe I just said it. Say [...]
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