Big thanks to Victor Nash at Destination: Universe! for hosting.

Directed by Tony Altamirano

Engineered by Victor Nash

Mixed by Bryson Hansen

Mastered by Dave Rosman

Produced by Danielle King & Ben Hubbird

The post Black Milk CD Baby Artist Session appeared first on Discover Music.

Each week we dig up a new crop of tunes and update our DIG! playlist on Spotify with tracks from some of the best indie artists around. From the familiar to the obscure, we’re constantly on the hunt for new music from the over 6 million tracks distributed by CD Baby, and we’re bringing you our very favorites every week.

Listen below and be sure to follow CD Baby on Spotify for updates.

But enough about us, how about you? How do you discover music these days? What are the tracks you can’t get out of your head right now? We’d love to hear what you’re listening to, especially artists we might not have heard before!

Comments ahoy!

The post DIG! our playlist of new music on Spotify appeared first on Discover Music.

The post #ThrowbackThursday: From the Crates featuring King Jazzy appeared first on Discover Music.

The post #ThrowbackThursday – Mother’s Day Edition: From the Crates featuring Janis Ian appeared first on Discover Music.

Of course, we’ll always have his music, so if you’ve never experienced Smith’s mastery of melody and knack for leaving a knot in even the most steady of stomachs, it’s never too late. CD Baby is proud to be a home to Elliott Smith’s music, and if you’re looking for a place to start with the man’s vast catalog, let me see if I can help you along.

An Introduction to Elliott Smith

Want a quick overview of Smith’s work? Start here. Featuring songs spanning his entire career, this collection can’t help but leave out tracks that many would deem essential, but if you’re starting from scratch, this ain’t a bad place to begin.

Roman Candle

Famously recorded to 4-track cassette in a dank basement, this is Elliott Smith’s first full-length solo effort, made when he was still a member of the band Heatmiser. The audio quality is the scratchiest in Smith’s catalog, but it only adds to the charm. Songs like “Condor Ave” and “No Name #4” still hold up amongst his finest work.

Elliott Smith

Smith’s first proper LP (he went into the studio for this one) marks the moment when Portland and the rest of the indie-rock world started to realize what they had their hands on here: a songwriting talent like we hadn’t seen before. Songs like “Southern Belle” are more aggressive than previous compositions, while “Christian Brothers” and “St. Ides Heaven” betray their titles with delicate, beautiful melodies.

Either/Or

Many cite Either/Or as Smith’s quintessential record – this is the one released just prior to his unexpected rise-to-fame with the song “Miss Misery” on the Good Will Hunting Soundtrack. Classic Smith tracks included here: “Say Yes,” “Rose Parade,” “Angeles,” but pretty much every song on this album is more than worthy of your time.

From a Basement On The Hill

Smith released a few albums on the Dreamworks label following Either/Or, and this posthumous album collects the tracks he had completed (or almost completed) before his untimely death. Simultaneously moving and troubling, these songs are Smith laid bare; some of his most intimate songs both lyrically and musically. Make sure to check out “Pretty (Ugly Before),” “Memory Lane,” and “A Fond Farewell.”

It can’t be stated enough how honored CD Baby is to help share Elliott Smith’s music with the world. Start anywhere: you won’t be disappointed.

The post Brad’s Picks: Elliott Smith’s Memory Lane appeared first on Discover Music.

The post #ThrowbackThursday: From the Crates featuring Prom Queen appeared first on Discover Music.

Birthday

Nightcrawlin

Stemming

Read a little more about the session’s track “Birthday” on Pop Matters.

The post CD Baby Artist Sessions featuring Royal Canoe appeared first on Discover Music.

Rising Appalachia – Wider Circles

Strong songwriting meets beautiful harmonies and traditional folk

RIYL: Ani DiFranco, Indigo Girls, Michael Franti

Michal Menert – Space Jazz

Sonic electro-soul that goes beyond the realm of EDM

RIYL: Big Gigantic, Break Science, Pretty Lights

Hutch and Kathy – Hutch and Kathy

Look! It’s The Thermals before they became The Thermals. Antifolk and bedroom pop goodness at its best

RIYL: The Thermals (of course), Jonathan Richman, The Mountain Goats

The post New Music Tuesday – 4.21.15 appeared first on Discover Music.