You can download a free, legal mp3 by Danish-African singer Nabiha at the link below. Her sound is a breezy brand of soul-influenced pop. "Deep Sleep" was featured on her debut album, Cracks. Nabiha - Deep Sleep (mp3)* *mp3 hosted by & posted w/ permission of artist's PR rep BUY @ AMAZON
Lia Ices, whose Grown Unknown was one of my Top Albums of 2011, recently applied her haunting voice to Pink Floyd's "Wish You Were Here." You can download a free, legal mp3 of the cover at The Fader. Lia Ices - Wish You Were Here (click for mp3 download page)
I went into Cave of Forgotten Dreams without knowing anything about it and enjoyed it so much I hesitate to say anything here aside from it's one of the most extraordinary and beautiful films I've ever seen. Werner Herzog's documentary literally explores the Chauvet Cave in Southern France, which holds the most ancient cave paintings [...]
Stewart O'Nan has become a favorite author in the Muruch household. I (Vic) first fell for his writing in 1994 when his stark and mesmerizing debut novel, Snow Angels, was released, and Brendan loves O'Nan's 2007 novel Last Night at the Lobster enough to re-read it every winter. We both recently read (and loved) O'Nan's [...]
Escort are offering another free, legal mp3 from their debut self-titled album (click for my rave review). I love their fun lil disco-pop confection more with each listen. You can download the new mp3 of "Love in Indigo" as well as the two older mp3s below... Escort - Love in Indigo (mp3)* Escort - Makeover [...]
You can download a free, legal mp3 by Gaba Kulka by signing up for her email newsletter via Gaba's official site. The mp3 is "Devil's Headlights," which first appeared on Gaba's out of print 2002 King of Rats demo (thankfully I still have my copy) and is now available as a bonus track on the [...]
Marc Broussard will perform songs from his recently released self-titled album live at Mountain Stage on February 12th. The Louisiana native successfully made the unusual move from the Delta-flavored country of 20042s Carencro to a retro-soul influenced pop style with his recent releases. The stand out track of Marc Broussard by far is the bluesy [...]
To say Anaïs Mitchell's fourth album, Young Man in America, was my most anticipated release of the new year would be a chasmic understatement. Listening to this worthy followup to 20102s spectacular "folk opera" Hadestown, I kept thinking Anaïs Mitchell is like a modern day Woody Guthrie or Bob Dylan. Her epic lyrical narratives echo [...]
The New Mastersounds' Breaks from the Border is another album that's a little too jam bandish for my taste, but certain tracks stand out enough to make it worth reviewing. The four-piece funk band from Leeds plays a fun blend of retro soul, jazz and funk that's great to dance to. You can download two [...]
Carsie Blanton's new album, Idiot Heart, will be released on January 31st. Carsie has opened for Paul Simon and also performed in stage productions of Anaïs Mitchell's Hadestown. Idiot Heart is an immensely charming collection of catchy jazz- and folk-influenced Americana. You can download two free, legal mp3s from the album below, then I suggest [...]
The Souls Rebels' new album, Unlock Your Mind, will be released on January 31st. Overall the album isn't one I would listen to often due to the jam band style of most of the arrangments, but it's good for what it is. And the eight-piece ensemble's sizzling, swaying, big brass instrumental cover of The Eurythmics' [...]
Listen to Me: A Tribute to Buddy Holly was released so shortly after the Rave On Buddy Holly that it got lost in the shuffle of my review folder last year. Even months later, Listen to Me still suffers by comparison to the other Buddy Holly tribute. This is at least in part due to [...]
A stream of Leonard Cohen's new song, "Going Home," premiered today on The New Yorker. The lyrics of the song will be published in the January 23rd issue of The New Yorker and the song will be included on Cohen's upcoming studio album, Old Ideas. The album will be released on January 31st. Leonard Cohen [...]
Ani Difranco's new album, Which Side Are You On?, will be released on January 17th and I have extremely mixed feelings about it... The first two tracks on the album are so lifeless that I almost stopped listening, but the gritty, thunderous, magnificent title track is a whole other world. Folk legend Pete Seeger joins [...]
Contrast Podcast's 2011 Festive 50 has been posted. Part 1 features Muruch's Vic introducing "Booty City" from Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybear's Scandalous and Part 2 has Brendan's poetic intro to "What The Water Gave Me" from Florence + The Machine's Ceremonials. Both albums were on Muruch's Top Albums of 2011 list. Contrast Podcast [...]
Kate Tucker's 2007 debut full-length is still a favorite listen of mine, so I'm happy to hear she has a new release. Kate is offering her new EP, Ghost of Something New, as a free download via Noisetrade. You can access the download by entering your email address in the widget below. The official, complete [...]
Muruch's L.A. guest reviewer, Laura Foxworthy, also attended The Lumineer's show at The Hotel Café on January 6th. Following are her thoughts on their performance... The Hotel Café always had this element of appeal to me personally and enjoys a certain "indie" reputation due to its association with Zach Braff and the "indie" soundtracks of [...]
Muruch's L.A. guest reviewer, Laura Foxworthy, caught Ariana Hall's live performance at The Hotel Café on January 4th. Following are her thoughts on the concert... For the New Year of 2012, two of my resolutions were to see more live music and to write more. I also decided to try experiencing new music in a [...]
Queen Esther is in the process of recording what she calls her "Black Americana" album and is asking fans to help fund the project via Kickstarter. She only has 4 days left to raise $13,213. Please donate if you can. If her cover of "I Feel Like Going Home" (which you can stream at the [...]
Brendan here again. In what may be a first for Muruch.com, I'm taking a second pass at an album which had been previously reviewed by my lovely wife, Vic. Kate Bush's 50 Words For Snow has become one of four released last year which have been added to my favorites collection (if you're interested, the [...]
Muruch
M.I.A. - Bad Girls (Official Video)
Give Me All Your Luvin' (Feat. M.I.A. and Nicki Minaj)
Miike Snow - Paddling Out
The Shins: “September” (b-side of “Simple Song” 7”)
St. Vincent - 'Cheerleader'
Fanfarlo :: Shiny Things (Yeasayer Remix)
Gross Magic: Teen Jamz
No Title
Chiddy Bang - "By Your Side" [Video]
Video: The Kills perform “The Last Goodbye” on Letterman
