Here's something to help get you in the mood for next Tuesday. It comes from Kayln Rock's rather lovely album Passenger which is full of low-key, restrained, but ultimately affecting and powerful songs - none more so than the heartbreaking honesty of Valentine . Order the album here . Download Kayln Rock - Valentine mp3 (from Passenger) Follow @madmackerel
We're mere hours away from starting the weekend, and with the season finale of football over, we'll actually have to go outside. Luckily, there are tons of great shows, and many fundraising for a good cause, over the next few days. Let's get to it. FRIDAY SOFT SPEAKER The Brit pop-inspired Chicago outfit come out swinging with plenty of lingering guitar licks, hazy psychedelic rhythms and even some [...]
Bang on the money this week: gin in hand, more snow outside, Andy Williams is playing… You know that feeling (maybe?) that you just want something to dance to that your Dad used to play on vinyl when you were small… I still have the moves, Pops: Can't Take My Eyes Off You , followed by a bit of Moon River . Anyway, enough of that. You can just hear that needle ripping across the record… focus, focus. This week I'm enjoying Cate Le Bon's Puts Me [...]
We happened upon this bit of news via the consistently excellent Folk Hive blog and knew it was worth a re-post, concerning as it does The Shakey Graves . They released an excellent album of spooky folk last year with Roll The Bones (the brilliant title track from said album being a song that made it on to many MM playlists) and now they have followed it up with a new EP titled The State Of Texas Vs. Alejandro Rose-Garcia . In case you didn't know, Shakey Graves is the work [...]
New Music this Week Someone You Should Know "Anchor Home" by The Days Weight The Days Weight - Brandywine BOSTON - One of the first things that will surprise you on listening to The Days Weight , a little while after [...]
In late 2008, with no money to her name, Jesse Thomas headed for Los Angeles. Alone. After a few open mic nights in the Valley and some raw demo recordings, she caught the attention of producer Jim Roach at Red Parade Music Group . Jim found something special in Jesse that countless others would soon come to recognize: a hilarious yet poignant personality shining through that smoky, battle scarred voice. She released an EP Hazel back in 2010, which met with much acclaim, and now makes a welcome return with her [...]
For some inexplicable reason it has taken us far too long to put up a post about Buxton , especially considering what a delightful album they released at the end of January in the shape of Nothing Here Seems Strange. Hailing from Houston Texas (incidentally the first place I ever visited in the States, and where hats were mighty impressive accessories for most folk in the airport), they describe their music as a study in contrasts: rock and folk, subtle yet eccentric, lush harmonies over prickly guitar. We couldn't have put it better [...]
Defining and describing the sound of Orpheum Bell is a tricky task. There is some Eastern European folk in there for sure, but equally they have a classic Country thing going on too. Country & Eastern? Gypsy Americana perhaps? Whatever, these are mere labels. What matters is the music and on new album The Old Sisters' Home , their particular blend is a heady, intoxicating brew with vocals hewn from the Tom Waits stable and backed by tunes that sound as if they belong in smoky back-rooms and dusty, darkened theatres. Taster track [...]
You know the drill by now. The latest free monthly Insound digital mix can be grabbed just by clicking here . Featuring another stellar lineup including Pontiak, Of Montreal, La Sera, Nite Jewel, Porcelain Raft and Bowerbirds amongst others, here are a couple of our own favourites from the mix: firstly another track from Sharon Van Etten's wonderful new album and some icy dance-goth from Black Marble . Download Sharon Van Etten - Leonard mp3 (from Insound February Mixtape 2/7/12) Download Black Marble [...]
With the weekend's Super Bowl now over, what better way to celebrate the season than with a playlist from a show not only about football, but with one of the greatest indie soundtracks to go with it. NBC's Friday Night Lights is a show about a small, western Texas town, where every Friday night during the football season the town shuts down to cheer on the Dylan Panthers football team. With the bright lights of the football stadium, it's easy for the various characters to get lost in themselves as they deal with handling pressure, serious injury, drug [...]
The Muse is the title of the free sampler from American Songwriter and the February mix is a stormer featuring amongst others Sharon Van Etten, Lambchop, Hacienda, Ani DiFranco and The Wrinkle Neck Mules . Here are a couple of our own favourites from it, the wonderful Dr. Dog with an up-tempo taste of new album Be The Void in the shape of the brilliant That Old Black Hole and taken from Kathleen Edwards excellent Voyageur album we have Change The Sheets [...]
Download link is in the original post Song: The Shins - September [NEW] [download here ] What's so good? Well well, lucky Record Store Day(.com) ! They just got to premier an awesome new song by The Shins, titled "September." The track will [...]
Nathan Bell's album Black Crow Blue is one of those records that has an almost cinematic, widescreen feel whilst retaining a lovely, honest intimacy through its literate, considered lyrics and gently strummed acoustics. There are stories, laments and learning here - almost in equal measure - in songs to be listened to, absorbed and understood. For to do so will surely make you a smarter and wiser person. Black Crow Blue has been out since the summer. Buy the album from CD baby here . Download Nathan [...]
Neil Young and Crazy Horse have already completed Americana .
Jenny Gillespie's new EP Belita , the first release on her own Narooma Records, is an intoxicating blend of folk, indie pop and post-rock. Released on April 10 it features Sam Amidon and Jim White (of PJ Harvey and Cat Power ). Download Jenny Gillespie - Creature Of Our Make mp3 (from Belita EP) Follow @madmackerel
Jenny Gillespie's new EP Belita , the first release on her own Narooma Records, is an intoxicating blend of folk, indie pop and post-rock. Released on April 10 it features Sam Amidon and Jim White (of PJ Harvey and Cat Power ). Download Jenny Gillespie - Creature Of Our Make mp3 (from Belita EP) Follow @madmackerel
New album from singing environmentalist.
Salt is the new album from Hoots & Hellmouth and will see a release in April. Taster single Why Would You Not Want To Go There? has a slow-burn intensity that builds in tandem with some expertly judged flourishes of piano and electric guitar. The band have drawn favourable comparisons with the Avett Brothers and Delta Spirit and you can add Dr. Dog and Blitzen Trapper to the list too as they expertly mine that rich seam of country and rock from vulnerable introspection to vibrant sing-alongs. [...]
Protest music for post 9/11. It isn't always pretty, but sometimes pretty can be overrated.
Beneath Wind and Waves is Portland-based singer/songwriter Shawn Lawson Freeman recording with Jim Walker. Recently released long-player Non-etre is a cunningly crafted, mindfully performed, extended moment of clarity in the face of the unknown. Dark love, missed chances, inner silences, and joyful trials are delicately delineated in its shrewdly scribed lyrics, delivered with Freeman's sweetly pleasuring vocals upon a classy bed of acoustic and electronic instrumentation. Most of Non-etre sounds like floating out on a wave, where you're never sure what you might hear or have to think about next - [...]
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Whitney Houston
Childish Gambino
The Shins: “September” (b-side of “Simple Song” 7”)
St. Vincent - 'Cheerleader'
OK Go - Needing/Getting - Official Video
Jay-Z & Kanye West - Ni**as In Paris (Explicit)![Niki & The Dove - The Fox [OFFICIAL VIDEO]](http://cdn.elbo.ws/youtube/l2f6UbMnlq4_130.jpg)
Niki & The Dove - The Fox [OFFICIAL VIDEO]
Download: Lissy Trullie - "It's Only You, Isn't It"
Video: Now, Now - "Dead Oaks"
Karmin – “Broken Hearted” and “I Told You So” 2/11 SNL
