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
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 [...]
Vi abbiamo già dato la notizia di " Blunderbuss ", il nuovo lavoro solista di Jack White , in uscita il prossimo 24 aprile per la sua Third Man Records . Nel frattempo è stata pubblicata "Love Interruption": la traccia è il singolo dell'album in formato 7", il cui lato B è "Machine Gun Silhouette" che non sarà però inclusa nella tracklist del disco. Sonorità molto simili alla precedente anticipazione, che si muovono su territori country e folk-blues, 'stavolta con un po' di bluegrass in chiave southern-rock (la Allman Brothers [...]
I just got a great review in one of Sweden's bigges morning papers, and the rest of the world is not late on following the trend. TOANWTS is appointed the prestigious title of " Album of the Month " on renowned music blog Bluesbunny " Perhaps her most interesting artistic choice however is the sound of the album this time around. Country flavoured sonic touches abound on many of the songs thus giving the album an underlying focus and, [...]
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 [...]
Wow, from the start of the new album Country by Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad I am amazed and I am astonished. I first heard of this band while attending a G-Love and the Special Sauce show at First Avenue in Minneapolis. Their live show was an unreal jam session filled with plenty of energy that got the crowd dancing. Country may get your foot tapping a bit while you are sipping a whiskey down at your local saloon. Country is an album with an acoustic, slowed down blue grass sound with folk and [...]
![[Listen/Download] Whitehorse- Killing Time Is Murder](http://cdn.elbo.ws/posts/4044547_lg.jpg)
by teepoo One of my favourite husband and wife duos is probably Whitehorse because they don't have to be all cute when they're in duet. For example in Killing Time Is Murder there's a pretty dark, dirty and naughty atmosphere about it. The song comes off their self-titled debut that was released last October. Whitehorse- Killing Time is Murder
Diplomacy between nations doesn't always involve dignitaries or high-level negotiations. A group with a presence in St. Louis engages in "cultural diplomacy," which involves exchanging musical ... Continue reading "Finding Hip-Hop in Kazahstan and Country in India: American Voices Sets Up in St. Louis" >
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 [...]
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 [...]
Although there have always been performers who defied the odds and became overnight successes, most have had to spend years working their way up the ladder of fame. Still, not many have had the perseverance of Freddie Hart, who didn't really hit it big until he was in his mid-forties and "Easy Loving" topped the 1971 country charts. Born as one of fifteen kids in an Alabama sharecropper's family, young Frederick Segrest grew up during the Great Depression, surrounded by poverty but also immersed in the musi c of rural America. He picked up his first guitar when [...]
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. [...]
Although officially deemed "folk", 'Emmylou' is downright country, man. But it's okay! Good country alert. Now I'm certainly not a country music fan, I'll hold up my hands. However there's something entirely mellifluous encasing this track from the super young Swedish duo. In fact the sisters Johanna and Klara Söderberg are SO young (21 and 18 respectively), perhaps it's that air of wide-eyed juvenescence which so effortlessly banishes those stereotypical country-bumpkin presumptions from this song. The defining feature is that absolutely sublime close-knit harmony, the world needs more elements of camaraderie in [...]
The James Low Western Front may come from the lush climes of Portland, Oregon, but theirs is a sound that was born in towns like Nashville, Tennessee and Bakersfield, California. It shuffles, grooves, and sweats with the best of them, begging to be played through the in-dash stereo of a pickup truck. The eight-song collection on forthcoming release Whiskey Farmer focuses on the plight of the titular character (portrayed on the front cover of the album by Low himself), someone that has, according to Low, " always done things kind of right- did OK in [...]
We've taken our sweet time to get round to listening to this EP by Bel Air . Titled Fall (see, told you) this is the third instalment in their 'Seasons' EP project. It is four tracks of indie rock shot through with a dose of dusty Americana. Try the energetic guitar work on the rather epic Bigfoot Camaro . Download Bel Air - Bigfoot Camaro mp3 (from Fall EP) Follow @madmackerel
A year ago today (and, believe me, this is still terribly hard to type), monumental Detroit garage rock duo the White Stripes officially decided to break apart. The raw, bluesy two piece cut the chord on February 2, 2011, ending the more than 10 years of life their only child had so voraciously acquired. In all honesty, this was to be expected; it would have been selfish to force the electric pair to continue, especially once Meg White 's increasingly acute anxiety attacks were factored into the entropic equation. It was clear that (although not mentioned [...]
Regular readers will recall that I've been a Kindler since late 2010 and also just received a Kindle Fire tablet as a Christmas gift. Mrs. BigGeez has a Kindle of her own too, so we're a three-Kindle household. In light of all that it would be a natural subject to write about, but I've resisted the temptation because this is supposed to be a nostalgia-themed music blog. However, I also write about what's currently attracting my interest, and I am certainly spending a lot of time with my new tablet. I'm also discovering that there's one aspect of it that [...]
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The Shins: “September” (b-side of “Simple Song” 7”)
St. Vincent - 'Cheerleader'
Jay-Z & Kanye West - Ni**as In Paris (Explicit)
OK Go - Needing/Getting - Official Video
Ladyhawke - Black White & Blue
Sofia Talvik - Swedish Singer/Songwriter - Street of Dreams
Conchord On Composing Music For Muppets
Watch: Trailer for Dave Grohl’s documentary, Sound City
Webcast: The Kills’ 10th anniversary concert
Childish Gambino - "Heartbeat" (Official Music Video)
Hardwell Bootleg Pack 2012
