Telegraph Canyon — “Reels & Wires” @ Casa Mañana from WeDentonDoIt.

Reels & Wires is the ending track, from Telegraph Canyon beautiful second full length, “The Tide and The Current” released in 2009 : another must have for all the alt-am, alt-country, alt-bearded lovers !

Back to fav summer albums.  I’ve googled the site many times, thought I’ve already wrote down something here about this band… but only found couple tweets… This guys have been touring all this summer long supporting Delta Spirit. They announced some more dates this fall with Dawes. A must see. Their first full length is on repeat since the early days of June, sure it will be in my 2010 favs ! As usual when an album is so good, let’s tease you with the intro track.

Jump to their myspace page, where you can stream the full album and check their tour dates.

Back to summer favs ? I’m a bit late pointing you on this one but in case you’ve missed this fabulous release, be sure to buy the first collection from this awesome irish soulwriter : James Vincent McMorrow ! Here we go…

Everything fine Laura ? Enough handkerchiefs Trini ? Get Ready for a second one ?

Now, call me “Fleur Bleue” !

Let’s have a short break from my recent posts… It’s not a “fav” but it may soon become one…
Matrimony released a collection of catchy tunes, which make me feel this same exact mood than the one I feel  listening to a recent favorite summer tune from  Heather .

Jump to their base bandcamp site and stream the hole album.

It’s a non-stop-loop since the early days of its release ; It’s a cracker ! “History from Below” is so far my best 2010 alt-rock album and its ending track “Ballad of Vitaly” is absolutely stunning.

“In the German sky there once was a plane
It carries 71 children and their mothers to spain
Well this plane was sure something
It was full of young Russians
Proudly to gander at topics discussin’
Now Pete the Swiss was doublin’ shifts
Jugglin’ the iron controlled by his lips
Not a minute too soon children fell to their doom
Struck dead in the air, orphan a father or two
He just laid in the alley
Now orphan Vitaly met a young girl
Married her quickly
Was so damn in love that they had their two kids
Had a great job; construction in Spain
They were going to see Papa from Caucasus mountain range
Now that damn Swissman crashed them into a plane
I will find where he lives
Speak to his face with the blood in my eyes
He will see my pain
Many weeks passed
For fear of a suit
The airline said nothin, Vitaly turned blue
For the killing they done
No apology made
Is it ’cause we are Russian you treat us this way
Through a friend that he new Vitaly found Pete
He came to his doorstep expecting to speak
But Pete blew him off
Threw down the pictures Vi brought
Pictures of the 3 most important he lost
As the pictures fell down
Re-enacting the day
Vitaly’s eye blackened
No human remained
Well so much can be said
For a man in his shoes
There’s no glamour in vengeance
There’s only this rule:
That the lives that you lost can never come back
And the deed in return is worse than the act
Blinded by love and the pain of his loss
He could not remember the act of assault
He awoke in his room all covered in blood
The cops they’d come knockin
They knew what he’d done
The government leaned
Vitaly was free
They called him the hero, a man above kings
A shadow of man, they were praising his deed
He was alone
Killed a father of 3
No deed that he did could make him complete
It could have been different if only Pete said
“I’m sorry for killin’ the few joys you had”
But now there’s nothin’ for Vitaly to do
But step off a cliff or hang in the noose
Robbed of forgiveness that he could’a gave
There’s no man left to save ”

adam haworth stephens / WE LIVE ON CLIFFS / album preview from Saddle Creek on Vimeo.

Just in case, you’re lost in those summer releases ; I’ve collected couple great albums. As i’m not sure to have more free time, let’s start with my best one : “4th of July” from Joe Purdy.

“Leavin’ from the water ain’t never easy
Takin’ to the city is harder still
Don’t forget your brothers
And don’t forsake your sisters
Because they will take you back when nobody will.

You can have my money
And you can take my guitar
Just make sure you that use them and you use them well

Ain’t nothin’ wrong with ramblin’
Aint nothin’ wrong with dyin’
Just make sure when you’re finished you got a story to tell

Take your painted pony and ride up on the hillside
And tell all of my loved ones that I’m glory bound.
Take 16 pretty maidens with 16 pretty roses
Singing pretty to my darling as they lay me down.”

Here is the other video I took of last night’s show at Lincoln Hall in Chicago. Nathaniel Rateliff & his band take the stage to join The Tallest Man On Earth covering Bob Dylan’s “The Man In Me”

So I have been a bit MIA around here lately, so long time no chat?  I thought I would put down some tunes here based on a referral from fellow blogger Tart over at Love Shack, Baby.  Tart was watching The Wailing Wall playing in Chicago and immediately tweeted that I needed to listen & pick up the new album.

Who is “The Wailing Wall”?  Well it is 23 year old multi instrumentalist Jesse Rifkin.  Again, it always makes me feel old when you find someone so young that seems so talented.  But I digress.

So…the new album “The Low Hanging Fruit” is from JDub Records (see here) but alas, it is sold out currently from the site (but pre-order the bonus track version on iTunes).  Good sign I think.  So…what do you do now?  Well you listen to the numerous available free downloads from the label of course!  Well with that thought I have been listening to this fringe folk artist’s demos and earlier works and they indeed deserve a shout out for purchase.  I have included a favourite track “Dear Mother” with the demo and final version from the Hospital Blossoms album.  Its a great little diddy, especially the uber lo-fi start to the final version – frickin’ good.  Also attached is the album title track for juxtapose (or not) to the remainder of the songs.

“Dear Mother (demo)”
“Dear Mother”
“Hospital Blossoms”

Find the remainder of the downloads on his artist page over on JDub (here) along with some bonus tracks from Archive.org (here).  You can also find all the links in one convenient location on his MySpace page, along with a crap load of other info (here).

~Smansmith

A little video I took last night on my phone of The Tallest Man On Earth covering Bob Dylan’s “I’ll Keep It With Mine” at Lincoln Hall in Chicago. He also covered another Bob Dylan song (“The Man In Me”) with Nathaniel Rateliff and his band which I also recorded but will post later as I have not uploaded it yet.

This was too good not to share. Stunning! Enjoy!

A special tip for Laura, who asked us, some of our favorite banjo songs, few days ago. I forget to mention in my top list these days : Pieces from Danny Leggett.

Ante Scriptum : I’m currently deleting all audio files posted on this site before 2009. It’s seems that our little place on the web is consuming to much bandwidth… Jumping from a post to another, it’s always tempting to visit every artist website and check what’s new ! This is the reason that land me on Trappers Cabin brand new website.

“- Hey What Time is it ?”
“- Shhhh I can’t hear the radio ”
“- In the deep dark woods of the North Georgia Mountains there’s only one man you’ve got to hear : Trappers Cabin !”

Not yet familiar to this jingle ? Connect this page and grab your first episode !
But if Trappers Cabin website is reduced to this single show counting 5 episodes so far,  there’s a brand new myspace page where four brand new tracks  (as far as I know) are published. Immerse yourself in this mix of 1970′s british psychedelic with tones of folk ! Awesome. Hope an album will be soon released !!!

Artist : Trappers Cabin.

Although the The North Farm Sessions EP by Jonny & Lucy came out in February it’s only now i’ve been able to find time to post about it. Just finished wowing audiences supporting the magnificent Unthanks on a european tour they are now lined up to play some major festivals, namely Larmer tree, Green man and the best festival in the uk, The End Of The Road Festival. As an added bonus they will also be playing for us here in Brighton as part of a drifter promotions show straight after the end of the road gig, come along.

Even Jonny & Lucy can’t agree on how they would describe their music, Jonny say’s melancholic Lucy say’s thoughtful. Either way, it’s folk music drenched in an old traditional sound, it could easily be music from 100 years ago, however, apart from hares on the mountain, all other tracks on this six track EP are all their own. Jonny sings and plays guitar very sensitively to support Lucy’s fabulous voice and fiddle.It’s also nice to hear jonny sing in his accent (Geordie, like me) and along with Lucy’s sweeter, southern perhaps posher tone it works amazingly well. It’s all the things you’d expect, delicate, sparse, even  mournful but together they create something really quite wondrous. None of them are trying to take the limelight, the balance is perfect, when they sing together  it’s a combination that feels totally organic. So now the secret’s out, they are being haled in some press as the next big thing to hit the REAL folk scene, one word describes them for me, genuine.

Try and see them play if they come by your town but if this is too long a wait you can buy their debut EP here. Enjoy.

Benjamin Francis Leftwich by http://www.photographybypip.co.uk/

I landed on Benjamin Francis Leftwich myspace page while listening to his song “More than Letters”definitely one of the most brilliant track on  the Communion compilation record.
Benjamin Francis Leftwich is a 20 year old talented english songwriter from York. He’s first EP “A Million Miles Out” will be released in the early days of this fall produced by Ian Grimble (Manic Street Preachers, Travis, Texas). It will be followed by a full length on March 2011. Yes, I know, I’m not late on this one… but pay attention to the following songs, and I guess you’ll add those two dates on your own calendar.

Artist : Benjamin Francis Leftwich.
Photography :
Who else to enjoy ? Andy Whittle

I’m not sure but I guess that except from that one track from Emily Loizeau, I’ve never found the opportunity to post (about?) a single french lyrics song. To renew this prowess – i’m a bit shameful – I needed to pick a track from this huge canadian pond, a band from Quebec : Auguste !
They’ve just released on May 6th, their first eponymous ep ; a too short 4 beautiful compositions high on emotions. Born from the ashes of a previous band (August and me) using english compositions, frontman Sébastien Pomerleau finally chose his mother tongue to cover some addictive melodies and delicate arrangements.

Band : Auguste myspace / facebook
Where to buy ? Où acheter : cdbaby.com

Just a quick reminder ! Geordie has just published an amazing playlist once again this monday for  The Lonesome Drifter weekly radio show broadcasted via radio23.org from 20.00 to 22.00 (GMT). Check the list here and you’ll see some of our favorites, and as usual some brand new tunes and artists to discover. Tune in !

It’s been almost a full year – shame on me – since I’ve started to write down this draft about English songwriter Pete Roe while discovering his 2009 Ep entitled Animals and this very catchy eastern folk tune :  ”The Devil’s Dancefloor”.  This Devil’s Dancefloor is  a masterpiece composition which fully deserve its title and 12 months later it’s still ranking high on my playlists.
With the same amazing melody know-how than a Kele Goodwin or a Fraser Anderson, Pete Roe is distillating his stories through delicate melodies. Prospeller is first full length album is a great appetizer, but i’m still starving ! And here’s a new opportunity to taste Peter Roe songwriting with the release on June 7th of his new 4 tracks EP : The Merry-Go-Round, on Communion Records – founded by by Ben Lovett (Mumford and Sons), Kevin Jones (Cherbourg).
Enjoy this first track !

Artist : Pete Roe
Label : Communion Records

Lindsay Phillips by Charlie Jeffs

Seduced by a beautiful single “Legion” then by a second one “O’ Deceit”, it’s been couple months i’m eagerly awaiting for Melbourne songwriter Lindsay Phillips first solo album ‘Varning’ to be released. Patience has been rewarded. “Varning” is a superb collection of acoustic guitar driven ballads enhanced by  Lindsay Phillips singular dark voice.
As usual when an album is so good from start to end, there’s no hesitation giving you the first track as an appetizer for your ears.

Artist : Lindsay Phillips
Where to buy : Departed Sounds

I know, I know, you can’t buy or grab any album i’m writing about. So if you’ve missed the last Brook Lee Catastrophe, here’s a new chance to discover this bright californian band ! They offer you for free and for a limited time their brand new album : American Hotel.
I’m just discovering this 11 tracks collection… And with no doubt – i’m listening to track 7 – I can tell you that the band keep digging their atypical explorations mixing an undefinable but addictive sound between rock, folk and americana. It’s brilliant, it’s simply gorgeous !
According to the band,  this new album is the first of a two companion-pieces set to released summer and fall 2010 (woot woot hooray ) !

If “American Hotel” is designed to keep the intensity burning all the way to last call, “Motel Americana” (Fall 2010) is the hair of the dog—the cold comfort of the morning after, the soundtrack of the battered and the bruised. Squarely rooted in the folk tradition, “Motel Americana” also incorporates textures of country, bluegrass, and gospel in service of a song cycle that is at once melancholy and celebratory, the perfect antidote to a cold and cynical world.

Voilà de quoi nous mettre l’eau à la bouche ! In the meantime, let me tease you with the first track, then go and grab your album and please tweet about it as loud as you can, facebook it, myspace it, well spread the word, this band is huge !

Band : The Brook Lee Catastrophe new site – old site
Where to download ? Follow this link to download your free copy of  ’Hotel American’ album

Greg Mullen by MangoNebula

“I make music with a guitar and hands and a mouth. Sometimes those hands and mouth and guitar are joined by keys, bass, trumpets and drums and friends. My first record, “The Hungry Ocean” was released at the beginning of Spring 2010. It is the culmination of twenty-four years of looking at light.”

Here is Greg Mullen self-introduction from his website. Forgive me the easiness of this copy/paste  using his own words. But after listening to this album for couple weeks, i’ve found the last sentence is just perfect.  I hope, this young Massachussets songwriter will find in this first release enough rebound (with your support) to feed some new songs. As usual when an album is so good from start to end, let’s tease you with the first track.

Artist : Greg Mullen
Where to buy ? Bandcamp (for both limited cd or digital version).

Hello dreamers.

It’s been a long long time since I have posted anything. Never enough hours in the day it seems…work, eat, listen to music, sleep. Repeat…..but I had to make a little time to tell you all Nathaniel Rateliff‘s new album “In Memory of Loss” was released today…and trust me, it is a stunner. I purchased it this morning and I have been obsessively playing it over and over. Love at first listen.

I have Olly to thank for sharing this wonderfully talented artist with me. He blogged about Nathaniel on YCD here last year.

I had the pleasure of seeing Nathaniel live a few weeks back opening for The Low Anthem here in Chicago and I was completely blown away. My only complaint was that the set was too short. I wanted him to play all night! I’m pretty excited I will get to see him again so soon opening for The Tallest Man On Earth in May. Do check out his tour dates and see if he is in your town. Really, you have to see this guy live. His band is amazing too.

Below is a video of Nathaniel performing “Boil & Fight” which is on his new album. I’ve watched this one at least 15 times in the last few days. Yep, I’m hooked.

Nathaniel Rateliff “Boil & Fight” from Yours Truly on Vimeo.

Purchase In Memory of Loss: iTunes – Amazon

Purchase Desire and Dissolving Men: iTunes – Amazon

(Also check out his wonderful Daytrotter Session)

Below I have uploaded one track from his new album, and one from “Desire and Dissolving Men”

For the regular readers of YCD, this name may ring you a bell but the picture. Yop, Ben Rogers is a new member in the bearded songwriter family. But far beyond this pilosity detail, Ben Rogers got 2 new tracks which both are on a heavy rotation in my itunes library : the really catchy ‘Criminals’ & the Dylan-like ‘Born to Move’. This guy is as discrete as talented ; I hope the canadian music blog squad could catch him live and grab some more information about an upcoming release… In the meantime enjoy the tunes…

Artist : Ben Rogers

The most dense 2010 EPs so far.

Wise Children is  a musical project from the South Coast of England created by multi-instrumentist Robin Warren-Adamson. He released couple days ago (on April 7th)  his second ep “Absence & Reunion” a stunning 6 tracks collection. Don’t miss his previous one available as a free download on his bandcamp site ; this guy is gold.

Band : Wise Children (myspace / facebook)
Where to Buy : bandcamp
Who else to enjoy : Hey Marseilles, Ravens & Chimes, Matt Kanelos

Those guys are from Vermont. They’ve got a magnifique playlist on their myspace page but nothing else to share. Sometimes driven by piano, sometimes by acoustic guitars, their sound  could be qualified as folk or to be more specific ‘Mountain music’. Is this the reason that let me draw a comparison with Those Mountain Goats ?  I’ve got no link to direct you for buying some stuff. So just listen and hope you’ll be as enthusiast as I am.

Band : Blissville

It’s an absolute cracker !

With no doubt, the best album, 2010 gifted me is ‘Simple Hearts’ the first full length from the young Seattle band Washington Mile.
Chris Wise & Torry Anderson are distillating all along these 12 tracks collection a mixture that merge the best of Rock’n Roll and Folk. Tons of stuff should been said about this album but as usual i’m running against time and to sum up I would say  their music is a big fresh breeze I was waiting for.

Band : Washington Mile
Where to Buy : cdbaby.com

Here’s a quick post but a delicious collection of songs in the slowcoustic genre that my fellow blogger Sandy is cherishing ! I didn’t have enough time to merge more information about Drew Gatlin. But don’t hesitate to use the comments and share more about this Mississippi band.

More songs deserve your attention on The Bear Creeks bandcamp site.

I first wrote about Essie here and have been keeping a close eye on her career since then. I recently contacted her in regards to playing a show for us here in Brighton (Drifter Promotions) and we got talking about her new album, Until The Light Of Morning which she then kindly sent me. To quote Essie from her liner notes she writes “This record is made for every parent and every baby(and anyone else) who needs to rest and head off into the land of sleep. The record is designed to unwind itself as it goes along, as the music becomes softer and more relaxed, eventually becoming as instrumental as the heartbeat”

It’s easy to think having read that this album is perhaps one dimensional with regard to it’s target audience, but I have no children, am single yet find myself completely submerged in it. It leaves me with a feeling of complete safety, of comfort, of peace. It’s as though when I play it, it wraps it’s arms around me and lets me into it’s mystical world, leaving me with a sense of wonder and hope . There is an ethereal quality to all of Essie’s music, so delicate and fragile that you don’t want to even move when you’re listening to it in case you break the magical spell it seems to cast upon you. It’s stunning! Her voice alone is enough to keep you enthralled, it’s so controlled and intimate with long, drawn out notes reaching right inside of you. As I say, it’s stunning, it’s a beautiful gift that she shares with us all.

To me, you have to listen to this whole album in one sitting and in the correct running order because it flows into one body of work rather than eight separate lullabies. Not only that but your day’s ill’s and woes will have been completely washed away for another time, this is therapy of the very best kind. Buy it!

No mp3 to download as yet because as I said, there is no single release from it, it’s one body of work and so one single track wouldn’t do it justice. However, her amazing daytrotter session has just been uploaded and I urge you to go and download it immediately and you can also listen to a couple of tracks here too.

03 – Essie Jain – Falling Asleep by The Lonesome Drifter

Enjoy.

Salut à tous… Hope you’ve spent a great summer, autumn and winter time.
Here’s a simple alert for announcing the upcoming album from my favorite texan Doug Burr. “O Ye Devastator” his 3rd full length will be released the 4th of May ! In the meantime, here is a free track !

The first thing I look for in music regardless of genre or mainstream popularity, is honesty. If I feel that the music is coming from the heart and it’s sincere then I will respect it. I may not always like it but I will at least applaud it for it’s earnestness. This is why I like Elephant Micah, the alter-ego of Joe O’connell.  I first wrote about him here where he was kind of enough to grant us an interview and a couple of mp3′s. Since that interview he still hasn’t created a myspace or facebook page and is still intent of getting his music heard by the old fashioned method of word of mouth. Well, this seems to be working as he has an abundance of live dates from now up until at least May.

His latest offerings really show his versatility as a songwriter but also his various musical styles.With Echoer’s intent we have an album which was recorded using  more traditional recording methods and is eight tracks of sparse, intense beauty. During the interview Joe did with us I mentioned he reminded me of Low, early Smog and J.Tillman. Well out of those three this album has a definite J.Tillman ring to it although with a  less whispery vocal style, especially on the stand out track for me, field notes, but there is definitely elements throughout the whole album, still life blues is another really beautifully written and composed song, you find yourself falling into it and then pressing the rewind button a few times.  Personally, I think this is Joe’s best work yet mainly because I think each song flows into each other brilliantly, you hardley notice the gaps in between but you will have to decide for yourself because even at such a young age he has released umpteen albums.

Then we have The songs of bible birds which (and stick with me here) is, or at least was meant to be an album of bible bird covers, bible birds being a band that Joe himself invented when asked once if he had ever seen the bible bird man in Indiana. So in other words he’s covering his own songs, or at least that was the plan. Full story here. Eventually though what we do get though is an album that Joe in his own words says was produced using ‘weird recording methods’ originally back in 2006 but has only become avialable now after some tinkering which Joe is finally happy with. I perhaps should have listened to this album first and then Echoer’s Intent because the final products are very very different, especially in the sound which has some hissing in the background, sometimes distant vocals which are hard to pick out but after i played it first time I immediately played it again and then again and now I’m loving every pop, crackle and hiss. In fact, after a while you just hear the music, Joe with some female backing vocals (Beth Remis),odd sounds bellowing from a pump organ and although a very challenging album to listen to, it improves more and more with each hearing, I’m loving it. As I said, it’s honest to a fault but it’s  also trying something different which I think is rather refreshing as well as challenging, both for the listener and the creator. I admit though, I would love to hear these songs live and get another take on them.

As both albums are only 8 tracks long I am only putting up the mp3′s that Joe himself offers on his website because if I was to put up a different one and then another blog does the same there could be half the album across the internet and for someone who is completely D.I.Y, this would be unfair. So please, if you like this then go and buy the album or if you buy both together you get them for cheaper. Please, enjoy and go see him play at any one of these shows. By doing so you will be supporting a totally independant artist and a really talented one at that.

March 2010.

26 Louisville, KY at the Lounge w/ Joe Manning

27 Nashville, TN at Betty’s w/ Kelli Hix

28 Memphis, TN at the Buccaneer w/ the Warble

29 Oxford, MS at TBA

APRIL

1 New Orleans, LA at Sidearm Gallery w/ Hurray for the Riff Raff

3 Athens, GA at TBA w/ Bubbly Mommy Gun, Steven Trimmer

4 Chattanooga, TN at JJ’s

6 Somewhere, TN at Ida

7 Asheville, NC at Harvest Records

8 Knoxville, TN at the Pilot Light

9 Lexington, KY at the Hive

III. ROUGH ROUTING

All shows with Mark Trecka except where noted (*)

13 Grinnell, IA at Grinnell College

15 North Manchester, IN at the Firehouse

16 Buffalo, NY at Sugar City

17 Rochester, NY at Casa Del Awesome

18 Montague, MA at the Book Mill w/ Oweihops

19 Portland, ME at TBA

21 Boston, MA at TBA

22 New Paltz, NY at the Inn

23 Purchase, NY at SUNY Purchase

24 New York, NY at TBA

26 New York, NY at Bruar Falls w/ P.G. Six*

28 Philadelphia, PA at Robin’s w/ Strand of Oaks

29 Baltimore, MD at 2640 Space w/ Small Sur

30 Columbus, OH at TBA w/ Time & Temperature, Deadsea

MAY

1 Chicago, IL at TBA

Just a quick heads up to all of you who are going to this year’s SXSW. Sam has been invited over to play his ‘yorkshirecana’ folk music at this years festival and he’d really love your support. He is playing a couple of other dates too, here’s the lowdown.

16th March Session for Smooth and Demented Radio Austin TX
17th March The Velveeta Room sxsw showcase Austin TX
24th March JJs Bohemia, Chattanooga TN
25th March The Five Spot Nashville TN

Seriously talented folk musician as well as skateboarder from Yorkshire who is a must see as far as I’m concerned. If you mention you came to see him as a result  of reading this blog he will give you a free signed album. Actually that last bit might not be true but go see him anyway as you will be blown away by his talent and will most likely buy his album anyway. Enjoy.

In the last few months here in the UK I have noticed a big increase in the amount of shoegaze bands playing and many of them seem to be from foreign shores. Chimes &  bells hail from Denmark and are signed to tigerspring records. I will be honest and tell you that I had never heard of them until I saw them playing a couple of days ago here in Brighton and I was totally blown away by them. A 5 piece, they blend folk harmonies with a shoegaze sound but it is swamped in atmosphere and a slightly other worldly feel. Lead singer’s Cecilie Trier’s incredible,deep vocal style sits perfectly alongside the organ and cello she plays and all of this is backed up with at times two screaming guitars, drums, bass and sometimes all five of them harmonising perfectly together. This four track EP doesn’t have a track that comes in less than five minutes giving each one time to build and develop into something  really exquisite. After the last couple of years folk revival where so many people seemed to be getting comparisons made with either Nick Drake or Bob Dylan, it’s refreshing to hear a new band that seems to effortlessly blend elements of folk,  pop, and rock and therefore doesn’t define a genre, somehow it creates it’s own.

As of yet no news on a full release but as soon as I know I will be sure to let you’s know. Enjoy.

Where: Art Theater of Long Beach
Who: Tadhg Cooke, Jay Buchanan, Shane Alexander and The Guggenheim Grotto
When: Saturday, March 6th, 2010 at 8:00 pm

Fingerprints mailer:
“Our friend Trini, who first introduced us to the boys in Guggenheim Grotto, is stepping up to the “Make a beautiful racket – Long Beach” initiative (which I just invented, but in my mind it’s an umbrella of everyone who’s working to bring more music to our humble, but quiet, little town.) Anyway, Trini is hosting Nozzafest at the Art and it’s a night of fantastic music, great community, and well, it’s going to be a good party. The bands are Tadhg Cooke, Jay Buchanan, Shane Alexander, and The Guggenheim Grotto.

A bit about the bands:

Tadhg Cooke
The Irish Times said, “Tadhg Cooke’s solo debut crisscrosses so many terrains that your musical compass may quiver with the sheer magnetic challenge of Wax & Seal” and, giving it 4 stars, described the record as “eminently likeable, utterly enviable”.

Jay Buchanan
Jay is a local, who’s done a lot with SAM, and whose new album is an absolute killer (it’s not out yet, so you’ll have to trust me, but it’s great); think of the tempestuousness of Jeff Buckley, combined with the reflection of Ray Lamontagne, and the bare-boned soul of Marc Broussard and you’re in the right neighborhood.

Shane Alexander
Shane is an LA based songwriter who says he “strive(s) to have my music to connect on a spiritual level the way classic writers like Neil Young, Paul Simon, and Bruce Springsteen do. I don’t know I’ll get there, but I’m definitely getting closer.”

Guggenheim Grotto
The Guggenheim Grotto have twice filled the house at Fingerprints with their wonderful take on pop music with a folkish flair, so it’s no wonder that we’ve kept an eye on them, and over the past couple of years their star seems to have been on the rise. They’ve had songs feature prominently on KCRW and WXPN, they’ve had their songs play on the TV shows Brothers and Sisters and One Tree Hill, and StereoSubversion said “…if you are a fan of great harmonies, melodic arrangements, and intelligent folk rock sound then this album belongs in your collection”

Twitter
RSVP Facebook
Purchase Tickets Direct

Taken from the post over on Slowcoustic – this is You Crazy Dreamers post on what was best from 2009 reposted over here!

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Today is Day 11 of this Best of series and we have the You Crazy Dreamers Blog! YCD is compiled of 5 contributors in total with myself included (What you say, Sandy is on two blogs!! Yes, its true!) and we span two continents and 4 countries and thousands of miles between us 5 lovers of music. The title of the blog is taken from a Ray LaMontagne song, so if that is any idea, then you know the style of music we like to feature! There is a lot of albums (and bonus items thank to Trini) below!

So the lists include contributions from Olivier (France), Martin (UK), the US contingent of Trini (California) and Laura (Chicago) and then the Canadian me, Sandy. So five heads have to be able to pick something good…right? Right?

~~~

This is just a start! If you like what you are hearing – you can download the playlist by clicking HERE. Thanks Olivier!!

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Laura has been a bit slammed by work and such lately, but she did advise that besides meeting J. Tillman in Chicago a month or so back she thought the below was the best of the year.

Gregory Alan Isakov – The Empty Northern Hemisphere

Listen: “Evelyn”

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Martin found some love for a lot of music from his Brighton home and between Radio23.org and Simple Folk Radio shows he has found some real great offerings.

Best albums of the year (in no particular order, but you know..still numbered..so you know)

01. Roadside graves – My Son’s Home

02. Hush Arbors – Yankee Reality

03. Steve Abel & The Chrysalids – Flax Happy

04. The Sumner Brothers – The Sumner Brothers

05. Nurses – Apple’s Acre
Bonus: “Technicolor”

06. The Felice Brothers – Yonder Is The Clock
Bonus: “Run Chicken Run”

07. Woods – Song Of Shame

08. Serious Sam Barrett – Close To Home

09. Timber Timbre – Timber Timbre
Bonus Video:

Timber Timbre – Demon Host from Scott Cudmore on Vimeo.

10. Wye Oak – The Knot

~~

I (Sandy) have managed to like a lot of music this year and I don’t care what anyone is saying about 2009 being bit light on quality releases. I tend to be able to find much to like, adore and obsess over each year, so no real problems here.

I have decided to simply mention a few albums that for lack of a better term are “in my top 20″ of favourite listens for the year. Sure there will be more once I finally listen to the numerous albums that I haven’t given enough time to, but damn it, it’s just a music blogger best of list and you know – we are mostly about telling other bloggers what is good or bad! We (music aficionados) tend to be overly opinionated on what is “good” and what is “great” and what is “totally and utterly disappointing”. I find my niche being Slow and Acoustic makes for bit of an auditory “tunnel vision” when it comes to judging music, but I’m okay with that. Also, despite how I may bitch about how too many people list “The xx” or “Animal Collective” or even “Grizzly Bear” in their top lists, they probably aren’t as bad as I might think that they are. But my choices are better….{sarcasm intended}.

In order to make this fairly easy format-wise, my top albums are from my Rate Your Music profile (a needed website for all music nerds)!

1		J. Tillman Year in the Kingdom “Earthly Bodies” (mp3) Another triumph for Tillman, gentle and yet showing growth to a fuller sound. You get the dark dusky corners of an old farmhouse and the sombre timbre of Tillman’s breathy voice over, at times, sparse acoustic songs
2		The Black Atlantic Reverence for Fallen Trees “I Shall Cross This River” (mp3) Such a surprise to get this out of nowhere and fall in love with the harmonies. Another folk gem to hold onto.
3		Mumford & Sons Sigh No More “White Blank Page” (mp3) Entire package of laments, sing a longs, get onto your feet and still get pensive mid way. Stunning.
4		The Deep Dark Woods Winter Hours “The Gallows” (mp3) Best Alt Country coming out of Canada today. Period.
5		Doby Watson Twenty Two “Pummel” (mp3) Dark, introspective and just makes me want to sing along. Underplayed everywhere, come on people!
6		Sharon Van Etten Because I Was in Love “For You” (mp3) SVE is finally starting to get her deserved praise, this is another great solo “girl and guitar” showing for her.
7		Bowerbirds Upper Air “Northern Lights” (mp3) Overwhelmingly overlooked by many, but still such a great album. They are bringing their sound into the mainstream but it is still so lovely to listen along to.
8		Gregory Alan Isakov This Empty Northern Hemisphere see above for “Evelyn” This is definitely one of the most underrated songwriters around today, every album is great and this one does not disappoint.
9		Huck Notari Very Long Dream “He Rode Off” (mp3) Folk from long ago is still being released today. So dusty you need a drink alongside your headphones. This song is absolutely amazing and one of my favourite songs of the year.
10		Isbells Isbells “Time’s Ticking” (mp3) Another great album out of nowhere – some of the best indie pop recordings of the year.
11		Oweihops Viburnum “Proximity” (mp3) Always a fan of Oweihops, it is such a “real’ album – you feel like you are there with him as he sings of the world that both of you share. Keeper.
12		Timber Timbre Timber Timbre “Lay Down in the Tall Grass” (mp3) Gothic Canadiana – it feels dark, it sounds dark but it really isn’t. It is just plain good.
13		Tiny Vipers Life on Earth “Dreamer” (mp3) This whole album is dreamy, maybe too dreamy for some, but the it is an album you just want to float away with.
14		The Antlers Hospice “Two” (mp3) This album is an experience – you feel exhausted and satiated at the same time when listening. Headphones are a must.
15		Cam Penner Trouble & Mercy “Thirteen” (mp3) Late entry for me, but this Manitoban hit a nerve (maybe because I am from Manitoba), but this is the future of roots country in Canada.
16		Laura Gibson Beasts of Seasons “Sleeper” (mp3) Gorgeous, stunning. Gibson never disappoints and this album might be a grower for some, but damn its good.
17		Jon-Rae Fletcher Oh Maria “Oh Maria” (mp3) This is the sound of Southern gospel folk. The voice that comes out of this unassuming guy is incredible. Hand to god.
18		Haruko Wild Geese “Man In The Moon” (mp3) More acoustic and traditional than most, Haruko is a young lady destined to be the next folk goddess.
19		Andrew Bryant Galilee “Chicago Wind” (mp3) Dirty, dark and destined to find every last piece of yourself splayed out before you. A little bit rock, folk and singer songwriter mixed in for good measure
20		Strand of Oaks Leave Ruin “End In Flames” (mp3) This song-crafter/school teacher is making some of the loudest quiet music around. He sounds graceful but sings of real life, tragedy and the meaning of it all.

~~

I (Trini) am going to start of with my top ten albums of 2009. They are really in no particular order other than that each one of these has helped me heal in ways that only music can. I started the year feeling a little lost. Songs from each of these albums helped me find my way back.

1. Cory Chisel and The Wondering Sons – Death Won’t Send A Letter
Song: So Wrong For Me

2. Mumford & Sons – Sigh No More
Song: White Blank Page

3. Treetop Flyer – To Bury The Past EP
Song: Is It All Worth It?

4. Wilco – Wilco (The Album)
Song: You and I

5. The Avett Brothers – I and Love and You
Song: Head Full of Doubt/Road Full of Promise

6. J. Tillman – Vacilando Territory Blues
Song: Masters House

7. William Fitzsimmons – The Sparrow and The Crow
Song: Even Now

8. Jack Savoretti – Harder Than Easy
Song: Harder Than Easy

Bonus: Mother (mp3)

9. A.A Bondy – When The Devils Loose
Song: A Slow Parade

10. The Felice Brothers – Yonder Is The Clock
Song: All When We Were Young

In my attempt to gain some sanity, I’ve taken up baking. It is by far the only thing aside from music that helps me relax. I can say with absolute confidence that I’ve mastered the chocolate chip cookie recipe and will forever be making root beer float cupcakes. These two should be a staple in everyone’s baking repertoire.

http://www.joythebaker.com/blog/2009/05/root-beer-float-cake/
http://livefireonline.com/2007/10/18/jaays-best-ever-chocolate-chip-cookies/

Now, let me introduce you to my new toy which I’m anxiously awaiting its arrival. The Digital Harinezumi 2 Audio and Video camera. http://poketo.com/shop/archives/1009 What is it you say? Check out this cool little video, can’t wait to start shooting with it.

Digital Harinezumi 2 from 2122748828 on Vimeo.

Insert shameless plug here→ I’m putting together this little nifty music festival next year you should join me. NOZZAFEST! ←

Ending my year for the first time not wishing for it to end, I’ve learned a lot about myself and am looking forward to new beginnings in 2010. Enjoy the tunes, bake something and go record life. It’s what I’ll be doing.

YCD ~ Trini

~~~

photo courtesy of Holly Thomas – see the full set

So Third Floor Sessions have done it again…a great live performance caught on video (and mp3) from Canadian indie icons Ohbijou!

There is something about Ohbijou, they are just a dreamy pop sound that is thick with lush melodies.  They create moments instead of songs…I can very much see them sound-tracking moments in time.  That perfect moment in time (or not so perfect moment) where through your mind’s eye it has sound.  It is the kind of music that can create something deep within you while listening.  The same way (for me) Sigur Rós create such deep emotion with music – the sounds can be epic, heart-warming and tragically beautiful.

Enjoy a couple of the tracks and a video: get the full 8 tracks over at Third Floor Sessions HERE.

“New Years” (mp3)
“Steep” (mp3)
Taken from Third Floor Sessions (Dec. 5th, 2009)

~Smansmith

Probably my favourite J. Tillman track is “Casualties”. I almost fell of my chair when I saw Luxury Wafers put a nice little video of a live recording of it for their recent session with the Tills.

I know I (and others on this blog) preach about Josh Tillman…but seriously, chills.

J Tillman – Casualties – Luxury Wafers Sessions from Luxury Wafers on Vimeo.

Visit Luxury Wafers for 3 live tracks (even a nice version of a track from his new 7″ that just came out last week) for free download with one simple click RIGHT HERE.

~Smansmith

Song o the day today is selected for two reasons (well three really) and comes from the lovely Kay Pettigrew.

The reasons go something like this: I listened to the Ohbijou live session yesterday via Third Floor Sessions (which was great by the way) and while there I took a look around, as I tend to, and noticed that Kay Pettigrew was the inaugural episode! I did a quick post with a cover Kay did for the theme song of Fresh Prince of Bel Air over on Slowcoustic (click to listen) a while back so I started thinking. The song generated a fair amount of airplay for Kay around the blogosphere and ended up being on the Hype Machine popular charts via myself and a couple other bloggers. So that is a reason isn’t it?

Another reason is I felt I needed to post again as I wanted to make sure that people see her for more than just that cover track. Her Third Floor Session is full of folkish sing-a-longs, bluesy riffs and gritty Canadiana alongside an incredibly mature sound for this young Torontonian. So this is a reason as well isn’t it?

The last reason is simply because I am located in Calgary which is at the base of the Rocky Mountains and this weekend started our “adventure” into winter (see here for a twitted photo from this weekend in Calgary). So this is definitely a reason isn’t it?

Well if none of the above are not enough of a reason, then I don’t know what else is. You can download the entire session from her live session HERE…maybe that is the reason??

“Adventures In The Rocky Mountains” – Kay Pettigrew

Visit and purchase some Kay Pettigrew:

~~~

~Smansmith

I just recently discovered The White Buffalo while trolling Last.fm of fellow friends and neighbors and I must say it has been a pretty good find.  I listened to a couple of tracks from his website and then immediately zipped over to eMusic and picked up his Hogtied Revisited album that was released in March of this year.

The video included below is for “Love Song #1″ which is from “The White Buffalo EP” which I believe is from 2005.  2005!?!  Yes, this guy has slipped past this Americana/Alt-Country fiend…but no longer.   This “White Buffalo” or Jake Smith as he is known to his friends is now on my radar.  This song is also streaming on his website homepage along with 2 others – so get a listen on and then zip over for an album if you enjoy it as much as me.

Visit The White Buffalo on the MySpace page and Website!

Pick up an album, why don’t you?:

~Smansmith

I don’t remember who sent me this “blast from the past” album from FatCat Recording artist Curtis Harvey.  It might have been one of these You Crazy Dreamers bloggers, so I thought I would put a bit of finger to keyboard for it.

The album “Box of Stones” is a new release (Nov. 3rd here in North America, rest of planet still pending I think) and is choke full of acoustic country folk that is just a bit more country than folk.  Almost like the album cover, I believe it speaks to another time of sephia toned whiskey joints and live roots music.  The sound created seems both personal and full of energy (even if it is a bit down tempo at times) with Harvey’s blood and guts built right in.  It is said that he recorded the entire album in his basement with few takes – just took it as it was.  I think that is why it seems full of that energy – it is really him, not his recording mixed and reproduced 50 times till it’s a fraction of the sound it once was.    A song like “Borrowed Time” has a straight forward structure but seems like was put together like it was happening all at once.  It might be the collection of sounds in the background, but I don’t know – it just sounds that way.  You can also have a songs like “Joking” or “Words” which are more in the vein of a back porch tribute to a previous time while at the same time being quite beautiful.

Another great track I found on the album is the sing a long “Oldertoo” which is a bit up tempo and brings a bit of kick to the step of this sad bastard.  It brings in banjo and an easy sound…I think it could just be the leg slapping (or what is reminiscent of a lite version of “foot stompin’ honky tonk”) – that track is included below, see for yourself!

Sidenote and recommendation: I do know I have kind of beat the vibe of “Americana past” into the ground for this post.  I have noticed with today’s indie music landscape where there is a country folk artist on every indie label’s roster (and maybe Harvey is FatCat’s resident guy with a guitar), Harvey brings a country worth considering.  With that, Curtis Harvey’s album is definitely worth a few spins, especially while sitting back with a favourite beverage of choice.

Curtis Harvey
“Oldertoo” (mp3)
from “Box Of Stones”
(Fat Cat Records)

Buy at iTunes Music Store
Buy at eMusic Delivery
More On This Album

~Smansmith

I know I know,  it came out in September and yes I am aware other blogs may have written about it, am I bothered? Not in the least, this blog has never been about being the first to post about someone although many times we have been but in the case of Mr Bondy I feel his new album, When the devil’s loose, deserves to be blogged about by as many people as possible as it’s an amazing piece of work. Recorded mostly in Mississippi by Bruce Watson of Fat possum records who has produced for the likes of Andrew Bird and the Black Keys as well as others and partly in New York by Jeremy ‘searcher’ Backofen (The Felice Brothers). In fact the brilliant Felice Brothers make an appearance on two tracks, namely When the devil’s loose and the final track of the album The coal hits the fire and you could argue they are the two stand out tracks on the album but that wouldn’t be fair to the rest of it as it’s full of acoustic gems. From the gentle opening track  The mightiest of guns where his slightly croaked voice telling you to see the stars falling down like burning rain that were fired by the mightiest of guns, to the above mentioned final track bringing this fine album to a brilliant end. Of course with the Felice brothers connection there is some of their trademark sound to be heard here but I also hear in his voice similarities to Justin Rutledge and also just hear a later Josh Ritter singing I can see the pines are dancing. This is a must have album in my opinion by a singer/songwriter on the up who I think can only get better and better.

I saw Mr Bondy support the Felice brothers recently here in the UK and I urge you to go and see him on his current U.S tour as he’s a must see live act that will leave you astounded. Also, his new album is available on vinyl and it comes with a free mp3 download so please, without going into how right now,  you are supporting these smaller artists by buying their vinyl so do it.

He has also done another session for hearya which is going to be up soon but you can still grab his previous one here. Enjoy.

Not a new album or anything but Sam has a nice video just posted on youtube I thought I’d share with you’s.

Sam’s brilliant album Close to home, can still be picked up either online at Jumbo records or Rough Trade now have them too, good work. Remember the CD comes with the vinyl so a bargain to be had considering there is a limit of 500. Pick up a rare treat while at the same time grabbing the best British roots album this year.

Another installment of the Song o’ Day series I have been indulging in this last couple of months, hope you all like the fast blast of one track hits.  Well, hits in my books…

Today we have Mason Lindahl and his incredible guitar work.  He just happens to craft a song around his display of delicate acoustic guitar playing.  He is new to me but apparently well known for being quite the “finger picker” and I am inclined to agree.  There is a juxtaposition in this track though – you have delicate fretwork, but you also get coiled energy – this isn’t your daddy’s classically trained guitar work friends.  I guess this is why the words Alternative and Folk were used by IODA (even if both words are bastardized versions of what they once were, but I digress…).  There is just something about this track, I get the feeling there is more than just a song in this song…ya know?

Enjoy the title track from the recently released “Serrated Man Sound” album, it is worth multiple spins folks.

~~~

Mason Lindahl
“Serrated Man Sound” (mp3)
from “Serrated Man Sound”
(Porter Records)

More On This Album

Visit Mason Lindhal on MySpace below

~Smansmith

I first came across Hush Arbors around a year ago when Uncut magazine put one of their tracks on a compilation cd they give away each month.  Signed to the brilliant ecstatic peace label I was immediately struck by the sadness in Keith Woods voice, it reminded me a lot of the late Saint Thomas who I am a massive fan of and the second  track (Lisbon) on the new album which just came out this week in the U.K  yankee reality is uncannily similar. This is completely accidental as when I saw Keith play a solo set recently in London he said he’d never heard if him when I asked him.

Hush arbors earlier albums  blends fuzzy lo-fi  psych-folk with country but on the new one, which is produced by Dinosaur jr’s J Mascis there’s an added rockier edge to it, namely on fast asleep and the blistering final track Devil made you high but it still manages to maintain the default sound on so they say and one way ticket. If I had to pick out my favourite track from this album which quite frankly doesn’t have a bad one on it, i’d probably go for take it easy only because it’s completely different to any other they’ve done, more country sounding in the style of say The Byrds but you could ask me again tomorrow and I could plump for coming home with it’s chugging along riff and mellotron (played by J Mascis) with the first line ” I was thinking about the country, walking down these city roads, thinking about the space between, the silent and my soul” I love shit like this, it resonates with me.

When I was in London and I saw Keith play rue hollow I remember sitting completely transfixed by him and coming to the realisation that I was in the presence of a genius. He’s  got that certain thing no one can name or put a finger on, the same as Elliott Smith had or Nick Drake, just that something. His songs seem to come from somewhere deep within him very few of us ever reach, the bit where the real honesty lays and he’s bearing his very soul. Very few songwriters do this in my opinion, it takes guts to lay it all out on the line for everyone to hear and that leaves a certain vulnerability, it’s risky because it seems so fragile and any criticism could easily break it, or at least try to. Criticism must be hard to take when you’ve just bared your soul.

Now based in London there’s a couple of dates in Italy and then London at the end of October. Info here

Kindly I have been allowed to put up a couple of mp3′s for you to download but please please please, if you like it go and buy it here, you will not be disappointed I promise you. Enjoy.

For your attention Keith is also part of  Six organs of admittance and Current 93 and has just supported Sonic Youth on a London date.

So “Song o Day” today is a great cover.  I say this as not all covers are great, some are simply imitation.  It is nice to have a song that even though it is a cover, it can stand on it’s own.  This is one of those tracks from Kyle Swartzwelder and his cover of the Kathleen Edwards track “Away”.  Kyle sent these over to me the other day (along with a Neil Young cover of “Powderfinger”, nice), and I needed to share at least one of them.  Man the slide guitar (or what I think of as the slide guitar) is just gorgeous, waning and waxing throughout!

“Away (Kathleen Edwards cover)”- Kyle Swartzwelder

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*BONUS ORIGINAL – “Away” – Kathleen Edwards*

Enjoy a bit of folky Americana for your Thanksgiving.  Canadian Thanksgiving that is, and give thanks for talent such as Swartzwelder and Edwards.  If you like this unreleased cover  track – pick up Kyle’s album over at CD Baby HERE.  If you wanted to hear more of Kathleen Edwards, visit her on her website HERE.

~Smansmith

With a voice and a face like that who can deny Jack Savoretti. He had me at “Harder than Easy” you can buy his album on iTunes

Martin sent me the “Between the Minds” unplugged album and boy does it pull at my heart strings. This song “Without” has been playing non-stop on my iTunes today. I always find the words in songs that I can’t express myself. Sometimes I wish there was a rewind button and we could just start all over. Still learning to move forward without looking back. Hope you enjoy this album as much as I do. Ah, music the healer.

There is something about European Folk – it is soo good.  This example by Signe Tollefsen provides the beauty of strings and Tollefsen’s almost classically trained voice with lazy banjo of a rocking chair on the prairies of Oklahoma.  Definitely a song of the day here folks – this “half American in Amsterdam” provides you a gorgeous bit of European Americana.  This could be the next big thing (as big as indie Americana singer songwriters can be…).  Highly Recommended.

~~~
Signe Tollefsen
“You, Me & the Brewers” (mp3)
from “Signe Tollefsen”
(Corazong Records)

Buy at iTunes Music Store
More On This Album

~~~

~Smansmith

I was watching that new tv show “Bored To Death” on HBO and this song “Fucked Me Right Up” came on by Sean Hayes. Reminded me about him and what do you know he’s going to be playing nearby next week. So this is definitely going on the calendar. Smansmith posted about him a while back you can check out some of his music here

Catch him next week on October 4th at Saint Rocke

142 Pacific coast Hwy
Hermosa Beach, CA 90254
(310) 372-0035

Fucked Me Right Up

I’ve googled the web for two days trying to find an album, an ep, a single single but I’m empty-handed ! Well, half-empty as I found Kelli Schaefer myspace page which is streaming 4 sublime (awesome, huge, magnifiques, absolutely **** stars) tracks from this beautiful Portland songwriter. That’s it !

You’re just one step away from “Eyes In The Back Of My Head” another stunning song and i’m without word to qualify “Carry us Over” !
Is it the photograph or am I really upside down ? Is this the music or am I really “addicted” (shhhh ).
Count on me for tracking any movement on the web concerning Kelli !

Artist : Kelli Schaefer
Label : Amigo / Amiga (more pearls to be promoted from this small Portland label)
Who else to enjoy ? Samantha Savage Smith

Another installment of “Song o Day” for you folks – and yes, another winner from the Great White North (or Canada as I know it).  This time we have the title track from the upcoming album “Burnout” that is due out on November 10th.

OX’s previous album (American Lo Fi) was considered a bit of a tour de force of the indie stoners – huh?  Yeah, described as “weed infused” it was a pretty decent hit across Canada’s College/University radio scene.  While I tend to shy away from describing music by indicating an intoxicant of sorts is needed to enjoy (because it isn’t) – the new album obviously is following the theme with a title like “Burnout”.  They have brought a bit of country folk into the fold from the sound of the below track and I even though I enjoy the previous work, I like the direction of the mellowed out, day after vibe that this crew are putting forth.

“Burnout” – OX, from 2009′s “Burnout” album – due November 10th

You can always swing by their Website or visit iTunes for a copy of American Lo Fi HERE.

~Smansmith

p.s.  If you like this track, swing on by my Slowcoustic post for a bit of back story on OX!

Another great artist, I ‘ve almost kept for myself all this summer long is Nathaniel Rateliff & The Wheel.

Combining the endearing swagger of Jacques Brel, the moody mysticism of Leonard Cohen and the pastoral plucking of Nick Drake, Rateliff’s potent songs and rich voice grabbed the audience by the heart and the throat.

Any other arguments ? Well, Nick Drake, Nick Drake… Anyway,  I completely agree with the Jacques Brel’s parallel, and I guess most of our fellow Belgian readers will, as soon as they click the play button on this below youtube video !

I’ve been totally bewitched by this awesome song and performance… and I guess a minute after I was downloaded  The Wheel  first and single full length “Desire and Dissolving Men” released in 2007…
And for a mere 7 $, it’s one of the best album i’ve bought this year.

Nathaniel Rateliff is on tour this september, so check his website and myspace page ! If none of his dates is close to you. Thanks in advance Daytrotter.com as The Wheel will record a session, tomorrow  (Sept. 14) !!!

Artist : Nathaniel Rateliff
Where to buy : cdbaby.com
More Appetizers : myspace