Album of the Moment
It seems like every time I turn around lately I fall for another pretty face holding a guitar playing mind-bendingly awesome music. Just to prove that I'm capable of falling for something different I give you a pretty face not holding a guitar!
Well, at least not always holding a guitar.
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Sometimes she does, sometimes she doesn't. That counts for something doesn't it? But I digress; that, my friends, is the lovely April Smith! A woman with moxie, a real firecracker if there ever was one! Every time I listen to her sing I imagine her saying things like "what's it to ya doll" and "allow me to introduce my sidemen". In fact it's all too easy to pretend she stepped right of a speakeasy in 1928, kicked it with a few rockers in the late 50's, chilled with Tom Waits and Led Zeppelin in the 70's and then magically ended up in modern day Brooklyn where she met up with her fantabulous (yes I make up words) band, The Great Picture show... And they all lived happily ever after. No seriously just listen to them play and you'll know exactly what I mean, it's uncanny!
Their debut album "Songs for a Sinking Ship" has been slowly picking up steam, this may be the first time you're reading about it but I promise you it won't be the last. Rolling Stone, The Chicago Tribune and Metromix are all raving about her sass and ragtime sound. And I get the feeling that they're just the first of a tidal wave of adoration that's not far behind. I'll leave you with a few of my favorite tracks, hopefully you'll enjoy them as much as I do.
Until next time,
Matt
Update: HA! I was totally right, I can see that tidal wave just over the horizon now. Her song "Terrible Things" is featured in the teaser just released for season six of Weeds. Check it!
Song of the Week - June 29th, 2010
Without further ado, my pick of the week: Zoe Muth and the Lost High Rollers - Hey Little Darlin'
Honorable Mentions:
Wayne Hancock - Miller, Jack and Mad Dog
Oh Susana - Greyhound Bus
Caleb Klauder - It's All Your Fault
That's it for this week folks, I think I've got the country out of my system, so to those of you who absolutely can't stand it check back later for something completely different!
Until next time,
Matt
Song of the Week - June 4th, 2010
Blitzen Trapper has been around in various incarnations for years before finally crystallizing in July 2000 on the slopes of Mt. Hood. And it's this modern version of the experimental folk-rock sextet that we have to thank for my pick of the week. Off their 2008 release, "Furr", "Black River Killer" spins a tale of perpetual sin despite being a hairs breadth from 'heaven's gate'. Opening with the murder of a young girl, it follows a serial killer through several states, not to mention a few prison cells, as he seeks blood and redemption. Depressing, sure but it sings to the darkness in all of us in a profound yet simple manner and invites the listener to really examine his or her subconscious with this one seemingly innocent question: What would it really take to pull me back from heaven's gate?Honorable Mentions
Simple but catchy as hell pretty much sums up this track. The boy/girl duo Sleigh Bells has garnered critical claim from the likes of NPR, The New York Times and ABC with nothing but a couple of apparently astounding live performances and a few leaked tracks. Rare as that is what's rarer still is the talent these two share, talent severely lacking in todays world of Autotuned pop artists.
Swelling, haunting, epic, profound, thoughtful... These are but a few of the adjectives I would use to describe "Blank White Page". A folk/bluegrass group from London, England, Mumford & Sons pretty much rocketed to the the top of my favorite artists list this week standing beside the likes of Delta Spirit, Laura Marling and Sunset Rubdown. Granted, there are a shit-ton of artists in my favorites list but it takes some pretty amazing song writing skills to make it up there.
All I can say about this one is it's just good fun. Seriously, unless you've been hiding under a rock you've already heard their first single "Something Good Can Work" and this is more of the same. Trust me, that's a good thing!
Apologies, Promises and the Album of the Moment
Readers (few as you may be) beware, this paragraph is written more to myself than you, skipping it is advised but not mandatory. I have a problem with committing to the little things, things like this blog. I only post when the fancy strikes. This, as made so painfully obvious by the archives , is rare. So I write this in public as a promise to myself that I will compose, edit and publish a new post at least once a month. Even if no one ever reads it again. Even if I never make a bloody dime from it, I will continue to post at least once a month until emerging technologies render blogs as a whole useless and dumb. Because I need to establish the discipline required to follow through on the little things. As a show of good faith I am posting this when it's the last fucking thing in the world I want to do. Now that that's taken care of, on to the music!
Laura Marling. I can write it like that because to those already in the know her name is a statement, a sentence all unto itself. Imagine if you will, two friends throwing out names of their favorite lyricists: "James Taylor" says the first.
"Dan Folgerber", retorts the other.
"Bob Dylan"
"John Mayhall"
"Niel Young"
And so it goes, on and on, until one of the two declares with absolute authority; "Laura - Marling". At that point all present would probably witness a glazing of eyes, a pair of faint smiles and hear a soft but definite echo; "Laura Marling".
An old soul if there ever was one, Laura writes of love, lust and romance, the futility of religion, self-loathing and human psychology, not with the ignorance of youth but the poise and maturity of one who's lived a life full of loves (some lost, some buried), wars, weddings, births, torture and occasionally even redemption. To listen to her sing is to expose yourself to a cascade of emotion equal to or greater than anything ever penned by the likes of those listed above and so many more.
With that I close and leave you with a few choice songs from her latest work, my Album of the Moment, "I Speak Because I Can".
Until next time,
Matt
All files hosted at https://www.opendrive.com
Album Of The Moment: Home by Gavin Castleton
Castleton has played with Brother Ali, Mike Doughty, Common, The Roots, De La Soul, Ray LaMontagne, Mos Def, Sugarhill Gang, Wilco, Incubus, Fun Lovin' Criminals, 3rd Eye Blind, Save Ferris, Luscious Jackson, Joe Cocker, Awol One, and many others I didn't list here.
And he's certainly no disappointment to listen to. 'Home' is my first experience with his work and after three songs I was floored by his versatility. The more I dugg into it the more impressive it became.
'Home' is an experimental record, so much so I'd consider it a rock/pop opera that centers around the spring to winter and eventual end of a relationship told from both perspectives. There's also the addition of nearly every zombie cliché thrown into the gumbo for extra seasoning.
I mentioned the genres in the first three tracks, those would be pop, electro, orchestral, surf, rock, and '50s pop.
I've listened to this album about twice in a 24-hour period and I have no idea what to make of it. I like it to be certain, but it intrigues me more than anything. I have a feeling some will agree with me when I say it's like a novel to re-read than it is an album to listen to over and over.
Normally I'd post bit of, or the entire album, but I don't have to for this one. It's up, in it's entirety on Last.FM and Castleton's site. If ya like it, scoop it up via AmazonMP3 (that's where I bought it) or Amie.St.
Okay okay, I'll give you some of my faves.
Coffeelocks
Normally I'd post bit of, or the entire album, but I don't have to for this one. It's up, in it's entirety on Last.FM and Castleton's site. If ya like it, scoop it up via AmazonMP3 (that's where I bought it) or Amie.St.
Okay okay, I'll give you some of my faves.
Coffeelocks
That's it! Have a fantastic St. Patty's DAY! Listen to "The Killian's", "The Pogues", "The Dubliners", "The Dropkick Murphy's" and "Flogging Molly" drink green alcohol for me, don't worry, I'll drink some for you too.
Update: Odd! I just noticed on Castleton's site you can listen to album with 'commentary'.
Update: Odd! I just noticed on Castleton's site you can listen to album with 'commentary'.
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