Sweetheart Of The Radio

End

2010-07-18T16:32:00.003+01:00

Photo Credit

Mark Linkous

2010-03-07T19:53:00.002Z

1962 - 2010

MP3: Sparklehorse - It's A Wonderful Life

A Short Film About Linda Perhacs

2010-02-01T20:00:00.000Z

Bobby Charles

2010-01-15T13:18:00.002Z

February 21, 1938 - January 14, 2010

MP3: Bobby Charles - I Must Be In A Good Place Now

Bobby Charles Wiki

Sweetheart Of The Radio: Albums Of The Year 2009 (5 - 1)

2009-12-28T13:54:00.002Z

5. Richmond Fontaine - We Used To Think The Freeway Sounded Like A River

MP3: Richmond Fontaine - We Used To Think The Freeway Sounded Like A River

Richmond Fontaine On Myspace
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Previously On SOTR: Willy Vlautin

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4. Wilco - Wilco (The Album)

MP3: Wilco - Solitaire

Wilco on Myspace
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3. Phosphorescent - To Willie

MP3: Phosphorescent - It's Not Supposed To Be That Way

Phosphorescent on Myspace
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Previously on SOTR: Phosphorescent

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2. Sharon Van Etten - Because I Was In Love

MP3: Sharon Van Etten - I Wish I Knew

Sharon Van Etten on Myspace
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Previously on SOTR: Sharon Van Etten

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1. Bill Callahan - Sometimes I Wish I Were An Eagle

MP3: Bill Callahan - Faith/Void

Bill Callahan on Myspace
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Previously On SOTR: Bill Callahan

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Sweetheart Of The Radio: Albums Of The Year 2009 (10 - 6)

2009-12-27T12:56:00.003Z

10. Castanets - Texas Rose, The Thaw & The Beats

MP3: Castanets - Down The Line, Love

Castanets on Myspace
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Previously On SOTR: Castanets

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9. Espers - III

MP3: Espers -The Road Of Golden Dust

Espers on Myspace
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Previously on SOTR: Espers

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8. Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest

MP3: Grizzly Bear - Two Weeks

Grizzly Bear On Myspace
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7. Magnolia Electric Co. - Josephine

MP3: Magnolia Electric Co. - Josephine (courtesy of Secretly Canadian)

Magnolia Electric Co. on Myspace
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Previously On SOTR: Magnolia Electric Co.

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6. Alela Diane - To Be Still

MP3: Alela Diane - Age Old Blue

Alela Diane on Myspace
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Previously on SOTR: Alela Diane

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Vic Chesnutt

2009-12-25T22:28:00.003Z

November 12, 1964 – December 25, 2009

MP3: Vic Chesnutt - Dodge

Vic Chesnutt wiki

Photo Credit: Greg Stewart

The Funeral

2009-11-05T21:04:00.005Z

Working on whittling down my list of albums of the decade, there are obviously going to be albums that don't make the list, but which contain individual songs that would make my songs of the decade list if I had the inclination and time to make such a list (I don't).

One such song would be "The Funeral" by Band Of Horses. Taken from their 2007 debut album Everything All The Time, "The Funeral", for me, is a perfectly written, perfectly executed song.

Continuing my recent attempts of writing about covers that I like, this is the perfect place to mention Canadian singer Serena Ryder's paired down version of the "The Funeral", a cover that takes the song somewhere else, while maintaining the essence of this fine composition.

MP3: Band Of Horses - The Funeral (Courtesy of Sub Pop)
MP3: Serena Ryder - The Funeral

Band Of Horses on Myspace
Serena Ryder on Myspace
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Previously on SOTR: All I Want To Do Is Turn Around...

Mountain Man

2009-11-05T13:57:00.004Z

My favorite new musical discovery is Mountain Man, which is the the best accompaniment I have found for the onset of winter. The band make intimate, harmony based, sad folk songs that are as fragile as the falling leaves outside my window.

Mountain Man is three girls from Vermont, Amelia Meath, Molly Sarle, and Alex Sauser-Monnig, who recorded their self-titled album over the course of two sessions in 2009, one in January and the other in May. The album is available via Bandcamp with a 7" released promised soon via Open Face Records.

MP3: Mountain Man - White Heron
MP3: Mountain Man - Animal Tracks

Mountain Man on Myspace
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Boduf Songs

2009-10-30T17:17:00.002Z

Boduf Songs is Mat Sweet, a young man from Southampton, England who makes dark, psych tinged, textured folk music.To my ears he sounds like a moodier version of the Elliott Smith of "Needle In The Hay" or "Roman Candle" crossed perhaps with Charalambides or James Yorkston played at half speed.

Boduf Songs eponymous debut album was released on the Kranky label in 2005 after the label came across a CD-R of home recorded demos made by Sweet and were so blown away, decided to release the demos untouched, without any re-recordings. Two albums have followed 2006's Lion Devours the Sun and How Shadows Chase The Balance released in September of last year.

MP3: Boduf Songs - Oh Celebrate Your Vague Words and Coquettish Sovereignty
MP3: Boduf Songs - I Can't See A Thing In Here

Boduf Songs Website
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Arborea

2009-10-30T12:05:00.003Z

Writing a music blog you get whole load of emails from PR companies and bands who want you to write about their stuff. I try and listen to everything I get sent, but if I am to be honest, I like very little of what I hear. Every once in a while, however, I receive some communications about an artist that I do like, who to my ears sound great and who I am really happy to write about.

Case in point: Arborea, the husband and wife duo, Buck and Shanti Curran, from deep in the Western Maine woodlands who make low key, atmospheric folk music. Their latest album latest House of Sticks was released in February this year and builds on their two previous full length releases with a set of authentic and resonant recordings.

In 2009 Arborea also curated and produced a compilation for the UN World Food Program, entitled Leaves of Life. Highlights of which include contributions form Alela Diane with Mariee Sioux ("The Cuckoo"), Devendra Banhart ("Hotel St. Sebastian (demo)") and Micah Blue Smaldone ("The Clearing").

MP3: Arborea - Beirut
MP3: Arborea - Dark Is The Night (In The Wind)

Arborea on Myspace
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Townes

2009-10-29T12:44:00.004Z

Recently while set on shuffle, my iPod keeps playing tracks from the Steve Earle album Townes, which in turn keeps reminding me of how much I love the songwriting of Townes Van Zandt.

Earle, who famously proclaimed "Townes Van Zandt is the best songwriter in the whole world, and I’ll stand on Bob Dylan’s coffee table, in my cowboy boots, and say that”, recorded Townes as a tribute to his mentor and friend, and the album features fifteen Van Zandt originals and contains some really interesting arrangements of some of the great songwriters best loved songs.

MP3: Townes Van Zandt - Colorado Girl
MP3: Steve Earle - Colorado Girl
MP3: Townes Van Zandt - No Place To Fall
MP3: Steve Earle - No Place To Fall

Townes Van Zandt on Myspace
Steve Earle on Myspace
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Previously On SOTR: Townes Van Zandt
Previously on SOTR: Heartworn Highways

Sufjan Stevens

2009-10-26T17:25:00.003Z

I have had a problem with Sufjan Stevens music over the past few years. I quite liked Michigan and I loved Seven Swans, but I began to lose interest shortly after. It is not that I thought what he was doing was bad, it's just that what he was doing failed to click with me and my interests waned. Well, now my interest has been rekindled by a chance listen to his new record The BQE.

The BQE, described in the label blurb as "a cinematic suite inspired by the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway and the Hula-Hoop" was commissioned by Brooklyn Academy of Music and takes the form as an experimental in multi-media extravaganza . The quite sublime musical piece was conceived as the soundtrack to a 16mm/8mm film by Stevens which is available on DVD as part of the release. The BQE package also includes a 40 page book, a stereoscopic image reel and a comic book.

MP3: Sufjan Stevens - Movement I - In The Countenance Of Kings
MP3: Sufjan Stevens - Movement VI — Isorhythmic Night Dance with Interchanges (Courtesy Of Asthmatic Kitty)

Sufjan Stevens on Myspace
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Little Wings - Sandy Babe

2009-10-26T15:28:00.003Z

I don't know how I missed this, but I did. Back in July, Marriage Records gave away a new track from Little Wings called "Sandy Babe". Kyle Field from Little Wings is one of my favorite songwriters working today.

Sadly the track seems to be a one off as Little Wings are not on the Marriage Records list of Records That Are On Their Way. Good news though that a new Privacy record is!

MP3: Little Wings - Sandy Babe (Courtesy of Marriage Records)

Little Wings Website
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Previously on SOTR: Little Wings

Nico's Afraid

2009-10-21T16:39:00.003+01:00

Drawing a line between my two most recent posts and following on from last weeks look at covers of Donovan's "Colours", it feels like the perfect opportunity to look at the original and cover of one of my favorite songs ever, "Afraid" by Nico.

Originally released on her 1970 album Desertshore, Nico's graceful, tender, piano led ballad always stood out for me on the otherwise experimental avant-garde album. My cover of choice is by Espers and is taken from their 2005 covers record The Weed Tree. Espers' version perfectly re-imagining "Afraid" as a folk song for guitar and cello.

MP3: Nico - Afraid
MP3: Espers - Afraid

Espers on Myspace
Nico Website
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Previously On SOTR: Espers
Previously On SOTR: Nico - Chelsea Girls

Joe Boyd

2009-10-21T11:56:00.005+01:00

My recent enjoyment of the new Epsers album got me listening to the first couple of Fairport Convention albums, which in turn got me revisiting many of my favorite albums of the same era, which also constitute much of the production work of Joe Boyd.

For those unfamiliar with Boyd, I cannot recommend highly enough his memoir "White Bicycles: Making Music in the the 1960s" which follows Boyd's journey from tour manager in the early sixties, overseeing tours for the likes of Muddy Waters, Mississippi John Hurt, Stan Getz and others; to his work at the Newport Folk Festival in 1965 where he supervised Bob Dylan’s electric debut; to him founding the influential UFO club in London in 1966; through to his work as a record producer for Pink Floyd, Nick Drake and Fairport Convention, amongst many.

Under the moniker of his production company Witchseason productions, Boyd was instrumental in launching the careers of Nick Drake, Fairport Convention, and The Incredible String Band. His production credits also include Pink Floyd, Nico, Vashti Bunyan (Just Another Diamond Day), John & Beverley Martyn, Fotheringay and R.E.M.(Fables of the Reconstruction), amongst others.

"White Bicycles: Making Music in the 1960s" was published in 2006 and was accompanied by a 'soundtrack' with the same name. Both essential reading and listening.

MP3: Nick Drake - Time Has Told Me
MP3: Fairport Convention - Autopsy
MP3: Incredible String Band - Chinese White

Joe Boyd Website
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Previously On SOTR: Vashti Bunyan - Just Another Diamond Day
Previously On SOTR: Nick Drake

Espers

2009-10-20T15:05:00.006+01:00

I have recently been enjoying the new album from Philadelphia's premiere psych-folk practitioners Espers.

Since forming in 2002 as a trio consisting of Greg Weeks, Meg Baird and Brooke Sietinsons (and shortly after, expanded to a sextet including Otto Hauser, Helena Espvall and Chris Smith), Espers have created a legacy for themselves as one of the major players in the psych-folk revival or recent years.

Heavily influenced by british folk music of the late sixties and early seventies, including Fairport Convention, Pentangle, Trees and Mellow Candle, the music on Espers' three full length albums (Espers (2004), II (2006) & III (2009)) doesn't hide its debt to these influences, but never falls into the realm of mere pastiche or copy; Espers have their own identity and sound that has grown and expanded with each release, with III perhaps their most fully realized album to date.

MP3: ~~Espers - Cruel Storm~~ (Removed By Request)
MP3: ~~Espers - The Road Of Golden Dust~~ (Removed By Request)
MP3: Espers - Caroline (courtesy of Drag City)

Espers on Myspace
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Devendra Banhart - 'Walillamdzi' Video

2009-10-16T16:35:00.002+01:00

Devendra Banhart, Walillamdzi. Directed by Lauren Dukoff

Devendra Banhart on Myspace
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Previously on SOTR: Lauren Dukoff's Family

Donovan's Colours

2009-10-15T12:38:00.008+01:00

When I first started writing this blog I posted a feature called 'Friday Is For Covers' with a vague hope of starting a regular series highlighting cover versions of various songs that I dig.

For one reason or another this never really took off, but my fascination with covers continues - specifically the different ways that songs are re-interpreted and given new meanings or new directions by different artist.

Donovan's "Colours" is the perfect case in point. Originally released as a single by Donovan in 1965, the songs simple folk style proved popular with the music buying public, reaching #4 in the UK singles charts.

Aside from Donovan's various arrangements of "Colours" recorded throughout his career, two versions of the song spark my imagination and bring something new to this simple yet enduring composition. The first being Van Dyke Parks' 1968 instrumental adaption entitled, appropriately enough, "Donovan's Colours". Available on Park's first album Song Cycle. The second, "Variations on 'Colours'" by Kevin Barker's Currituck Co. Also an instrumental cover, this version relies heavily on finger picked acoustic guitar and what sounds like a xylophone, and sits stylistically somewhere between the Donovan original and Park's version.

MP3: Donovan - Colours
MP3: Van Dyke Parks - Donovan's Colours
MP3: Currituck Co. - Variations on 'Colours'

Donovan on Myspace
Van Dyke Parks on Myspace
Currituck Co. on Myspace

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Previously on SOTR: Donovan

Magnolia Electric Co.

2009-10-14T17:34:00.005+01:00

Photograph by Kyle Johnson
I have always had a degree trouble with the work of Jason Molina. From Songs: Ohia through to Magnolia Electric Co. I have wanted to love his stuff, but aside form the odd track here and there, something has always prevented me form really connecting with his work.

I just seem to have a problem sitting down and listening to his music for sustained periods...until now... Josephine the new album by Magnolia Electric Co. connects with something in me in a more consistent way than anything I have previously heard from Jason Molina. I guess sometimes things just happen that way. Sometimes it takes a while.

Josephine is a beautiful record about loss, heartbreak, regret and hope.

MP3: Magnolia Electric Co. - The Rock Of Ages
MP3: Magnolia Electric Co. - Shenandoah

MP3: Magnolia Electric Co. - Josephine (courtesy of Secretly Canadian)

Magnolia Electric Co. on Myspace
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Vashti Bunyan - Just Another Diamond Day

2009-10-13T13:16:00.008+01:00

In the mid sixties, Vashti Bunyan was 'discovered' by the then Rolling Stones manager Andrew Loog Oldham, who signed her to a recording contract at Decca records and gave her an original Jagger/Richards composition to record, this led to her recording for both Columbia and Intermediate records, however after little success Bunyan decided to leave the music business and city life behind and head for a remote Scottish island in a horse-drawn wagon in search of an artistic commune established by Donovan.

It was during this journey north that she wrote the beautiful folk lullabies which would later make up Just Another Diamond Day. By the time she'd made it to her destination, she found that the commune had never gotten off the ground, and no one was left. Upon her returned to London, Bunyan was urged by the legendary producer Joe Boyd (who had already produced Nick Drake, Fairport Convention, Sandy Denny, and The Incredible String Band) to record the songs she had amassed on her journeys and make an album for his Witchseason Productions company.

The recording sessions for Just Another Diamond Day took place in December 1969 in London with the help of string arranger Robert Kirby (who also worked with Nick Drake on his first two albums), Simon Nicol & Dave Swarbrick (Fairport Convention) and Robin Williamson (The Incredible String Band). The album was released in late 1970 to little attention and feeling like a failure for the second time Bunyan once again abandoned music in favor of other journeys and a life of obscurity.

Over the subsequent decades Just Another Diamond Day started to receive attention from record collectors and music fans, but things really started to change in 2000 when the album was first released on CD and Vashti started to receive the attention that she deserved, most notably from a new generation of musicians including Devendra Banhart, Joanna Newsom and Animal Collective with whom she recorded an EP entitled Prospect Hummer.

In in 2005, Vashti Bunyan recorded and released her second album, Lookaftering, 35 years after Just Another Diamond Day was released. The album was well received by both critics and fans and featured many of her growing army of followers including Banhart, Newsom, Kevin Barker of Currituck Co and Otto Hauser of Espers.

MP3: Vashti Bunyan - Diamond Day
MP3: Vashti Bunyan - Swallow Song

Vashti Bunyan on Myspace
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Sharon Van Etten

2009-10-12T13:19:00.004+01:00

I have completely fallen in love with the album Because I Was In Love by Brooklyn based singer-songwriter Sharon Van Etten. Etten who cites both Vashti Bunyan and Sibylle Baier as influences, lives in musically similar territory characterized by haunting compositions and soft melancholy vocals complemented by slow and spare acoustic guitar playing.

In the past couple of years Etten has opened for a host of fine artists including Great Lake Swimmers, Alela Diane and A Hawk and a Hacksaw, but it was after earning a support slot with Meg Baird that things started to really come together nicely, as this led to an introduction to Baird’s Espers bandmate, Greg Weeks, who ended up producing and helping shape the recordings that would end up becoming Because I Was In Love.

MP3: Sharon Van Etten - I Wish I Knew
MP3: Sharon Van Etten - Consolation Prize

MP3: Sharon Van Etten - For You (courtesy of Language Of Stone)

Sharon Van Etten on Myspace
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Donovan

2009-10-09T15:55:00.006+01:00

Yesterday I read an article on Donovan being given the title of "icon" at an awards ceremony by the US performing rights organisation Broadcast Music, Inc. I am not sure what the 'award' means, but I figured it is a good an excuse as any to post on an artist that I have a continuing appreciation and love for.

For the longest time I just didn't get Donovan. I guess for the most part I just dismissed him as a Dylan wannabe, my enduring image of the artist being the brief appearance in the D.A. Pennebaker film 'Don't Look Back', especially in the scene where Dylan wipes the floor with him in a hotel song swapping session.

I can't pinpoint when all that changed, but I am thankful it did.

There are so many ideas, innovations and fantastic songs in the Donovan cannon. The Dylan likeness of early recordings can be excused by the reality that they had both been influenced by the same sources (Ramblin' Jack, Jesse Fuller, Woody Guthrie, etc), but even without that there is immense quality and craft in his early folk compositions. From late '65 Donovan started incorporation a variety of other influences in his music (Jazz, psychedelic pop, Easter & Blues), and in collaboration with the producer Mickie Most produced a series of weird, wonderful and critically underrated albums including Mellow Yellow, Sunshine Superman, Barabajagal & The Hurdy Gurdy Man.

Donovan split with the producer in 1969 and his post Most albums are on the whole hit and miss affairs, but not without highlight. Not always the best route to take, but I think for the uninitiated a good entry point in discovering Donovan is with a best of, to work out which period takes your fancy most and go from there.

MP3: Donovan - To Sing For You
MP3: Donovan - Wear Your Love Like Heaven

Donovan on Myspace
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Cheyenne Mize & Bonnie 'Prince' Billy

2009-10-08T10:36:00.001+01:00

One of the prettiest things I have heard all year is the Cheyenne Mize and Bonnie 'Prince' Billy's collaboration, Among the Gold. Released by Karate Body Records initially as a limited edition of just 250 copies and not made available in stores (only via the Karate Body website & at Bonnie 'Prince' Billy live shows), and later made available for sale digitally, sadly this is a record that has possibly missed a lot of peoples radars.

Mize, a music therapist by day and 'by night' singer and fiddler in the Lousiville, Kentucky experimental-folk band Arnett Hollows as well as Bonnie 'Prince' Billy's own touring band, and Will Oldham teamed up for Among The Gold, an EP consisting entirely of covers of songs originally recorded between 1873 and 1915. As laid back as it gets, Among The Gold is a timeless collection of intimate, homespun recordings.

MP3: Cheyenne Mize & Bonnie 'Prince' Billy - Silver Threads Among The Gold
MP3: Cheyenne Mize & Bonnie 'Prince' Billy - Kiss Me Again

Bonnie 'Prince' Billy on Myspace
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Previously On SOTR: Bonnie 'Prince' Billy - 'I Am Goodbye' Video

Castanets

2009-10-07T08:50:00.000+01:00

Photgraph by Mia Ferm
One of my most eagerly anticipated releases this year was "Texas Rose, The Thaw, and The Beasts" by Castanets, and it turned out to be a record that lived up to expectation. The album saw Ray Raposa take a more stripped back and straight forward approach in delivering his songs, with noticeably less glitches and noises than previous efforts and an increased focus on song structure. Still feeling very much like a Castanets record, thanks in no small way to Raposa's distinctive vocal delivery, "Texas Rose..." is a self contained world of love and heartbreak, darkness and light.

MP3: Castanets - Down The Line, Love
MP3: Castanets - Thaw And The Beasts

MP3: Castanets - Worn From The Fight (With Fireworks) (courtesy of Asthmatic Kitty)

Castanets on Myspace
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Previously on SOTR: Texas Rose, The Thaw, and The Beasts

Glass Cake

2009-10-05T22:29:00.000+01:00

There is a beautiful warmth in the low fidelity recordings of Berkeley, California's Glass Cake, also known as the multi-talented Michelle Shofet. The minimal constructions, blanketed by Shofet's simple yet engaging melodies, produce a charming, warm and engaging listening experience with just the right measures of heart, melancholy and artfulness.

Glass Cake's 'Michelle Shofet's Album' is offered as a free download from the bands MySpace, however the link doesn't work due to myspace's archaic security filter, but you should be able to download it here.

Michelle Shofet also plays in the equally lo-fi and equally charming girl band.

MP3: Glass Cake - Blanket
MP3: Glass Cake - Friend Forever

Glass Cake on Myspace
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Back

2009-10-05T13:19:00.001+01:00

It's been a while... I guess for long periods of this year there has been little in the way of new music that has really excited me. Much of my time has been invested in some fantastic re-issues, The Beatles re-masters, the Neil Young Archives and the amazing Big Star box 'Keep An Eye On The Sky' to name but three. Anyway, to cut a rather dull and pointless story on the meaninglessness of existance short, I am back and this time I hope to actually deliver a consistent number of posts before I lose faith again.

There has been plenty going on and I hope to post on some exciting new discoveries in the next week or so, but random things that spring to mind include the hit and miss (but more often than not hit rather than miss) Beck Record Club. The concept being that Beck and assorted musician friends go into the studio and re-record a "classic album" in it's entirety in one take. So far 'The Velvet Underground and Nico' and 'Songs Of Leonard Cohen' have been tackled, but with the promise of Skip Spence's 'Oar' recorded with Wilco, still to come, this is a project that it seems worth keeping an eye on. A new album nearly completed from Damien Jurado, produced by Richard Swift and hopefully out before the end of the year. The slow filtering in of various albums of the decade lists (I love lists) as well as new records from Alela Diane, Espers, The Flaming Lips, Hush Arbors and Karl Blau amongst others make the onset of winter quite appealing.

MP3: Leon Russell - I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry (from the album 'Hank Wilson's Back)

Big Star

2009-08-19T12:46:00.001+01:00

As a huge Big Star fan next month promises to be an exciting time, with Rhino releasing two Big Star related records.

The first being 'Keep An Eye On The Sky' a four disc box set collection of album tracks, unreleased songs and live recordings. The collection covers the entire life span of Big Star from 1968 and 1975, including tons of previously unreleased gems. A lot of stuff has been "out there" for a while for those willing to search - but what most excites me is the comprehensive collection of Alex Chilton's demo's for the 'Third/Sister Lovers' record. Some of these appeared a couple of years ago on the collection "Thank You Friends: The Ardent Story" - but as far as I know, this is the first time that they will all be collected in one place.

The second release being the 'deluxe' reissue of Chris Bell's fantastic solo album 'I Am The Cosmos'. A two disc collection - the first disc features the original release of 'I Am The Cosmos', an album made up of recordings Bell made after departing Big Star, before his untimely death in 1978. The second disc will include alternate versions of many previously released Bell songs, as well as music from Bell's pre-Big Star band Icewater.

If you are reading this and do not own any Big Star records... firstly, shame on you. Secondly, their three seventies studio records are essentials for any serious collection: check out '#1 Record', 'Radio City' and 'Third/Sister Lovers' at the earliest opportunity.

MP3: ~~Big Star - Motel Blues~~ (Removed By Request)
MP3: Chris Bell - You & Your Sister (Acoustic Version)
MP3: Alex Chilton - Lovely Day (aka Stroke It Noel)

Big Star On Myspace
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Gary Higgins

2009-08-06T19:52:00.000+01:00

I can't believe I missed this one... at the end of September, Drag City will be releasing Gary Higgins his first album since 1973's 'Red Hash', the appropriately titled 'Seconds'.

After being "found" by Drag City, with help from Six Organs Of Admittance's Ben Chasny and revitalized by the reissuing of his 'lost' masterpiece 'Red Hash', Higgins found himself in a position where he was able to work on new material.

In Higgins own words: "The motivation to do another record was not hard to find. Having a group of new songs I was into and more than a few ‘older’ ones as well, it again seemed like a very logical thing to do. They all needed a place to be and ears, old and new, to listen. Additionally, I can’t tell you how many times I have read - “It’s too bad that Red Hash was the only record he recorded” - I knew I could fix that"

So far one track from 'Seconds', "Demons" has surfaced online - it sounds great. Musically it appears to sit on similar ground from where 'Red Hash' left off and Higgins is sounding like he is in great voice.

MP3: Gary Higgins - Demons

Gary Higgins on Myspace
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Previously on SOTR: Gary Higgins - Red Hash

Jim O'Rourke

2009-08-05T12:33:00.000+01:00

I am unbelievably excited about the prospect of a new Jim O'Rourke album. 'The Visitor' (possibly a reference to 'The Man Who Fell To Earth', following on his quirk for naming records after Nicolas Roeg Films - see: 'Insignificance', 'Eureka' & 'Bad Timing ' - or possibly not!) is released at the end of this month via Drag City.

I guess I first started paying full attention to O'Rourke's work after watching the flawed, but thoroughly charming film 'Love Liza', the soundbed for which is made up of much of O'Rourkes finest song based material. All of his melody/song based releases, (he has also released a great number of more experimental records), aurally offer something new and fresh, and never disappoint. Add to this his work with "alternative Supergroup" Loose Furs which is, in my mind, faultless and equal to his best solo material, as well as his production/engineering work with Wilco, Sonic Youth, Joanna Newsom & Smog and you have yourself a whole world ready and waiting for you to go and explore.

According to Drag City 'The Visitor' features just one long track (entitled "The Visitor"), and is closest in feel to 'Bad Timing', which itself contains four sections (each approximately 10 minutes long) of slow building, guitar picking, instrumental brilliance. Indeed the new album cover could also be interpreted with reference to the artwork for 'Bad Timing' which itself contains various references to glitter balls.

MP3: Jim O'Rourke - Halfway To A Threeway
MP3: Loose Furs - Answers To Your Questions

Jim O'Rourke on Myspace
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Previously on SOTR: Friday Is For Covers

Six Organs

2009-07-13T19:29:00.000+01:00

Slowly catching up from the time I was away, I am selectively sieving through bits and bobs that came up during that period. A nice (month old) story that made me smile was a message from Ben Chasny posted on the Six Organs Of Admittance Myspace page:

"Hey! I want to thank Jack for making this page. I don't check the mail on it or anything, Jack does that, but I thought I might utilize some of it's features. First, I want to mention that I am currently making a Six Organs guitar TAB book. I'm not really sure how big it is going to end up but I am thinking about 15 songs from the whole catalogue. What I am wondering is, are there any requests for any particular songs for me to TAB? So far I have already done Hallow Light Severed Sun, Words For Two, Elk River and Home. i was thinking i would probably do School of The Flower as well. After that, I am not sure. So basically I am taking requests. Any jams anyone might be interested in having me TAB? If not, it's all gonna be basically what's easiest for me to do!"

If you have a suggestion, head here.

MP3: Six Organs Of Admittance - Torn By Wolves
MP3: Six Organs Of Admittance - Words For Two

Six Organs Of Admittance on Myspace
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Previously on SOTR: Six Organs Of Admittance

Songs For Babes

2009-07-13T14:32:00.000+01:00

One of my favorite bands in the whole wide world Talons' have just announced that their fantastic album 'Songs for Babes' is getting a European release thanks to Own Records. The CD includes new artwork from the original LP (still available at barkandhiss.com) in a "beautifully printed cardstock package".

New Talons' music is also promised soon with the long awaited 'Songs For Boats' almost finished, as well as a new EP recorded in Dubai and an electronic album entitled 'Pandemia' in the bag. The entire Talons' catalog to date is still available from the Bark & Hiss website.

MP3: Talons' - Angela
MP3: Talons' - Sommer
MP3: Talons' - Cole (Courtesy of Own Records)

Download: The "complete" talons' library

talons' on Myspace
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Previously on SOTR: Talons'

Yim Yames

2009-07-10T15:00:00.000+01:00

I have never been a fan of My Morning Jacket, but on the two occasions that I have been exposed to the solo work of front man Jim James (or Yim Yames as he appears in his latest alias) I have been pleasantly surprised. The first time I sat up and took notice was on the Soundtrack to the Dylan "biopic" 'I'm Not There' where James sings "Goin' To Acapulco" accompanied by Calexico, which for me was one of the highlights of a great collection. The second is 'Tribute To', an EP of George Harrison covers.

Recorded in 2001 shortly after George Harrison's death 'Tribute To' contains six wonderful, stripped down, acoustic renditions of Harrison compositions, including versions of "My Sweet Lord", "All Things Must Pass" "Long, Long Long" and "Love To You". The EP is available to listen to in full and download now from the Yim Yames website for a very reasonable price, with a CD and vinyl released following on August 4th.

MP3: Jim James & Calexico - Goin' To Acapulco
MP3: Yim Yames - My Sweet Lord

Yim Yames on Myspace
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Texas Rose, The Thaw, and The Beasts

2009-07-07T16:30:00.000+01:00

Gee, it has been so long and so much music has gone under the proverbial bridge since I last wrote, that I am not sure where to start... I guess i'll begin with the new release news that has most excited me since my last post... Castanets have announced the release of a new album entitled "Texas Rose, The Thaw, and The Beasts" (out on Asthmatic Kitty on September 22nd). The press blurb suggests that Ray Raposa has stripped back the noises and glitches focus on well structured and defined songs, which can only be a good thing.

Recorded in April of this year in San Diego, "Texas Rose..." is Castanets' fifth for Asthmatic Kitty. There isn't a Castanets record that I have not fallen in love with and I am sure I will be able to say the same about this one.

MP3: Castanets - This Is The Early Game From 'In The Vines (courtesy of Asthmatic Kitty)
MP3: Castanets - Glory B From 'City Of Refuge' (courtesy of Asthmatic Kitty)

Castanets on Myspace
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Previously on SOTR: Castanets

On The Beach

2009-06-02T13:20:00.000+01:00

back in a while

Jay Bennett

2009-05-24T23:49:00.000+01:00

15th November 1963 - 24th May 2009

MP3: Wilco - My Darling

Jay Bennett Myspace

Gary Higgins - Red Hash

2009-05-21T10:56:00.000+01:00

Recorded during one forty-hour period in 1973, 'Red Hash' by Gary Higgins is one of the great 'lost' albums of all time. A lovely, sad, wistful folk album, 'Red Hash' was recorded so quickly because Higgins had recently been arrested on drug charges and was facing years in prison.

Shortly after the album was self released on his own Nufusmoon label, Higgins seemed to disappear and seemingly gave up a career in music, firstly serving out his prison sentence and later falling into domestic life marrying and having a child, and 'Red Hash' fell into the abyss.

It was during the mid-1990s, when 'Red Hash' began to get noticed. Partly due to the development of the internet (word spread about the album online and pirated copies began to appear on ebay) and partly down to musicians, such as Ben Chasny of Six Organs of Admittance, who began to cite the album as a major influence. Chasny even covered one of 'Red Hash's' many standout tracks, "Thicker than a Smokey" on the quite brilliant Six Organs of Admittance album 'School of the Flower' (2005). The story took a further turn for the better when A&R man Zach Cowie received a burned copy of the album from Chasny and was so enchanted with what he heard, decided to set out and find Higgins. The search paid off and the album was remastered and released to critical acclaim by Drag City in 2005.

'Red Hash' is a gem of an album that has aged fantastically well, comparisons with Skip Spence's 'Oar' and David Crosby's 'If I Could Only Remember My Name' begin to position this record in the "classic" territory that it deserves to be in.

MP3: Gary Higgins - Thicker Than A Smokey
MP3: Gary Higgins - It Didn't Take Too Long

Gary Higgins on Myspace
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Judee Sill

2009-05-20T12:35:00.000+01:00

I am really enjoying the recently released 'Loving Takes This Course: A Tribute to the Songs of Kath Bloom' collection, which features a disc of covers by the likes of Bill Callahan, Devendra Banhart and Meg Baird, alongside a second disc of the wonderful Bloom originals.

So it is with great excitement that I found out about another tribute record for another fantastic American singer. 'Crayon Angel: A Tribute To The Music Of Judee Sill' features new recordings by Bill Callahan ("For a Rainbow"), Ron Sexsmith (“Crayon Angels”), Beth Orton (“Reach for the Sky”), Marisa Nadler & Black Hole Infinity (“The Kiss”), Meg Baird (“When the Bridegroom Comes”), Daniel Rossen from Grizzly Bear (“Waterfall”) and P.G. Six (“Til Dreams Come True”) amongst others.

Sill was the first artist signed to David Geffen's Asylum Records and released two cult albums, 'Judee Sill' (1971) and 'Heart Food' (1973), before seemingly vanishing from the music scene and eventually dying of a drug overdose in 1974.

Before she passed away, Sill recorded demos for a third album in early 1974, which were released, along with other rarities, in a Jim O'Rourke mixed collection in 2005, 'Dreams Come True'.

'Crayon Angel: A Tribute To The Music Of Judee Sill' is released by American Dust later this year.

MP3: Judee Sill - Jesus Was A Crossmaker
MP3: Judee Sill - There's a Rugged Road

Judee Sill on Myspace
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Previously on SOTR: Crayon Angels

Neil Young Archives

2009-05-20T11:35:00.000+01:00

I am really excited about the imminent Neil Young Archives Volume 1 release. It seems less and less now that I actually get excited by owning the physical product when it comes to record releases, but this is one case where I am. It seems like Neil Young, who is the driving force behind this long promised release, get's it. He seems to understand what makes something valuable and special enough not to just be content with a digital copy.

This first volume of the Archives series traces Neil Young's career from his first recordings with the Squires at the beginning of the sixties, via Buffalo Springfield and CSNY, right through to the 1972 sessions for 'Harvest'. The Blu-Ray edition features an interactive time-line and a lavish hardback book, each providing a thorough overview of his recordings and performances from this era. Also included on the Blu-Ray edition is Young's first film, the long unavailable 'Journey Through The Past'.

My bank balance might not feel the same, but I really hope that the Neil Young Archive series creates a blueprint for other artists to use to assemble their own music-based multimedia scrapbook in the future.

MP3: Buffalo Springfield - Burned
MP3: Neil Young - Birds

Neil Young Myspace
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Graham Nash

2009-05-08T10:01:00.000+01:00

Up until a couple of weeks ago Graham Nash was the only member of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young that I had little or no appreciation for the solo work of. That was until I discovered his 1971 masterpiece 'Songs For Beginners'.

A somewhat sentimental and sensitive work (it came on the back of a temporary split with David Crosby and Stephen Stills and a permanent split with his then love, Joni Mitchel), 'Songs For Beginners' lives in a similar orbit to Neil Young's 'Harvest' and is eminently listenable. Accompanied by a star studded cast including CSNY band mates, Neil Young and David Crosby, as well as Rita Coolidge, Jerry Garcia, Dave Mason and P.P. Arnold, this record has really challenged for me the notion of Nash being the 'weak link' in CSNY.

MP3: Graham Nash - Simple Man
MP3: Graham Nash - Chicago

Graham Nash on Myspace
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Townes Van Zandt

2009-05-07T11:00:00.000+01:00

Watching Heartworn Highways for the umpteenth time I was reminded of how damn good Townes Van Zandt is. It is unbelievable that someone who has written so many fantastic songs is not more well known or widely appreciated.

The closest that country music came to having a songwriter to compare with Dylan, Townes Van Zandt spent most of his life on the fringes. A cult musician he never had a commercially successful album or single in his lifetime and even had difficulty for many years keeping his recordings in print. Success, of sorts, came in the early eighties when Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard had a number one on the country music charts with a cover of his song "Pancho and Lefty", but achievements like these were too few and far between and Van Zandt, notorious for his drink and drug addictions died on New Years Day 1997 from health problems stemming from his years of substance abuse.

MP3: Townes Van Zandt - Colorado Girl
MP3: Townes Van Zandt - Waitin' Around To Die (Heartworn Highways Version)

Townes Van Zandt Central
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The Band

2009-04-22T15:10:00.000+01:00

Image Credit: Elliott Landy
The first three albums by the band 'Music From Big Pink'(1968), 'The Band'(1969) and 'Stage Fright'(1970) are three of my favorite albums ever. The first two are essential additions to any serious music collection, the third, an oft neglected companion to the much lauded debut and sophomore efforts.

This list of records would be legacy enough for most, but you can add to this numerous credentials that make The Band one of the most important groups of all time. The most obvious examples being their involvement with Bob Dylan, both as backing band (then The Hawks) on his first "electric" tour of the US and later their work with him on the legendary 'Basement Tapes'. Then being the center piece of the greatest live concert film ever committed to tape 'The Last Waltz', documenting their final show featuring the original Band lineup and a stellar list of guests including Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, Muddy Waters, Van Morrison, Emmylou Harris and The Staple Singers.

The original line up which spans 1967 to 1976 consisted of four Canadians: Robbie Robertson, Richard Manuel, Garth Hudson and Rick Danko, and one American, Levon Helm (There was a reunion of sorts (sans Robbie Robertson) in the eighties, but for now I am going to focus on the original line up).

Aside from the first three gems, the original line up of The Band released four other studio albums. Although none of which live up to the consistency and magnificence of the earlier records, all contain genuine highlights. 'Cahoots'(1971) has the Dylan composition "When I Paint My Masterpiece", as well as "Life Is a Carnival", "The River Hymn" and the Van Morrison collaboration "4% Pantomime". 'Moondog Matinee'(1973) is an eclectic covers album containing versions of originals by Sam Cooke, Chuck Berry and Leiber & Stoller amongst others. 'Northern Lights - Southern Cross'(1975) is a mixed bag, but does include some of The Band's finest recordings, most notably "Acadian Driftwood" and "It Makes No Difference". The Bands final studio album 'Islands'(1977) is probably the least rewarding in the groups cannon, with an apt title, as this is the sound of a group breaking up, not the coherent family heard on previous releases.

MP3: The Band - All La Glory
MP3: The Band - It Makes No Difference

The Band on Myspace
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Gene Clark

2009-04-20T11:51:00.000+01:00

There are so many gaps in music I love and things I have never posted on, so I figure I am going to make a concerted effort to plug those gaps.. starting with Gene Clark.

Aside from being a founder member of The Byrds, Gene Clark was a prolific songwriter and singer with an amazing catalog of work, as well as being a pioneer of the country rock sound.

As part of The Byrds he contributed songs including "Set You Free This Time", "I'll Feel A Whole Lot Better" and "Eight Miles High". After releasing his first solo album, 'Gene Clark with the Gosdin Brothers' (1967), Clark got together with banjo player Doug Dillard for two pioneering country rock albums 'The Fantastic Expedition of Dillard & Clark' and 'Through the Morning Through the Night'. For me, Clarks masterpiece is 1971's 'White Light' a largely introspective affair, this is the record where Clark is most consistently on his game in terms of the quality of the songwriting. Also worth checking out is 1974's 'No Other', but maybe the best place to start for newcomes to Clark's work is the brilliant career spanning anthology 'Flying High'.

MP3: Gene Clark - With Tomorrow
MP3: Dillard & Clark - Don't Let Me Down (Beatles Cover)

Gene Clark on Myspace
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Quiet Bears

2009-04-15T14:37:00.000+01:00

Quiet Bears is the songwriting/recording project of Johnnie Cluney from Iowa, who since 2002 has led an ever rotating lineup in producing a number of limited lo-fi, home recorded cassette and cd-r releases.

I forgot how much I liked this band, but was reminded to go back and listen to some of their stuff with news of a new release. As the label blurb goes: During a 2007 tour, Doby Watson stopped in Davenport, IA to play a show. That night he stayed at the Quiet Bears home, and at seven the following morning, they, along with A.P. Swearengin and Johnnie’s friend Mark, began to jam into a four track machine in the basement.

The resulting recordings are available on a new EP called 'God/Fate' available now from Orchid Collective for a nominal donation.

MP3: Quiet Bears - Walking In The Rain
MP3: Quiet Bears - Bluejaybody
MP3: Quiet Bears - Creatures (Courtesy Of Asaurus Records)

Quiet Bears on Myspace
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Women & Children

2009-04-14T12:58:00.000+01:00

With so much music constantly available all the time, I find I am increasingly acquiring music and then moving on to something else before I have paid much, if any, attention to what I have just acquired. Well, sometimes the forgotten music fights back and keeps rearing its head until I pay attention. This just happened with me for Women & Children. I must have got their record 'Paralyzed Dance, Tonight' on emusic about two years ago. I guess I would have lazily listened to a couple of tracks, probably been perturbed by the varied approach from one track to the next and moved on to something else.

Then a couple of weeks ago the track "Rolly Fingers" came on my ipod and I found myself listening to it on repeat, eventually going back to the album, which had been sitting dormant for two years and I am really happy I did, for it is a record of great depth and varying textures that really rewards upon repeat listens.

Women & Children formed in Paris in 2001 when Canadian-born keyboardist Cheryl June Serwa and California-born guitarist Kevin Lasting got together with multi-instrumentalist Jamie Moon and drummer Olivier Robert. The band began will all members contributing to the writing collaboratively and switching vocal and instrumental roles. A self titled album appeared in 2003, followed by completely different self-titled limited-edition, embossed wooden box release which contained two 10" vinyl EPs and a live performance DVD.

Around 2006 Women & Children reverted to being a two piece with Serwa and Lasting remaining and recording their second album, 'Paralyzed Dance, Tonight'. I'm not particularly partial to comparing one band with other bands, but if pushed I guess i'd describe the sound of Women & Children as the softer side of Velvet Underground & Nico playing in the woods with Robert Wyatt, joined by a hazier, mellower Comus.

Women & Children have recently toured with both Brighblack Morning Light and Sean Lennon and have "many songs that we plan to record , or put out in the near future".

MP3: Women & Children - Rolly Fingers
MP3: Women & Children - A Bigger Graveyard

Women & Children on Myspace
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Viking Moses

2009-04-07T13:19:00.001+01:00

Viking Moses was started by Brendon Massei in 2003 and has spent it's life accommodating a rotating cast of musicians worldwide, releasing two full length albums along the way 'Crosses' in 2006 (a split LP also containing Spencer Kingman's 'Spenking') and 2008's 'The Parts That Showed'.

Viking Moses first came to prominence after appearing on Devendra Banhart's highly influential 2004 'The Golden Apples Of The Sun' compilation. After a series of 7" and cassette releases plus the odd compilation track, 'Crosses' sealed the deal and Viking Moses delivered on the early promise they had shown.

Presented as a "story-song cycle" 'Crosses', is a subtle yet accomplished piece of work, and one of the most underrated releases from the crop of American folk musicians who appeared on the aforementioned 'Golden Apples..' compilation. Containing little more than softly picked nylon-string acoustic guitar, bass, and the occasional piano, it is Massei's sleepy baritone and understated, almost childlike, but completely accomplished songwriting that make this record stand head and shoulders above many of it's peers.

'The Parts That Showed' was a welcome addition to the Viking Moses catalog. Recorded on the Oldham family farm in central Kentucky by Paul Oldham and written with "the dream that it might one day be sung by Dolly Parton", the album follows the somewhat unconventional narrative featuring a teenage prostitute and the man who obsesses over her from afar. Viking Moses will be touring the UK in May.

MP3: Viking Moses - Crosses
MP3: Viking Moses - And Then You Left

Viking Moses on Myspace
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Thanksgiving

2009-04-03T16:04:00.000+01:00

Thanksgiving is the quiet folk alter ego of Adrian Orange, a musician from America's North West who has, since his teens, been part of a tight knit music community that includes Phil Elverum (The Microphones, Mount Eerie), Kyle Field (Little Wings) and Calvin Johnson.

Orange started young, playing his first show at the age of 11 and by the age of 15, he had toured Europe and dropped out of high school to pursue music full time. He co-founded the brilliant label Marriage Records with his Watery Graves band-mate Curtis Knapp in late 2002, producing the labels first release, a CD-R titled 'Nothing'. Since then he has released numerous albums and singles under the name Thanksgiving including the fantastic Phil Elverum produced long player 'Welcome Nowhere'.

2006 saw the first releases under the moniker Adrian Orange and he has since recorded and toured under various names including Adrian Orange & Her Band, Lyllyy's Adrian Orange, Drone Boner and more recently has recorded an experimental electronic hip-hop album under the moniker AOK.

MP3: Thanksgiving - Days of Hiding
MP3: Thanksgiving - Thanksgiving
MP3: Thanksgiving - Welcome

Thanksgiving on Myspace
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Wand

2009-04-02T21:37:00.000+01:00

2008 was not the best of years for James Jackson Toth. During a tour set up to promote the release of Toth's studio album 'Waiting In Vain', things began to rapidly fall apart, first his whole band, which included his wife and partner of ten years, Jessica Toth, up and split, leaving Toth to finish the tour on his own. During the remainder of the tour, left with a lot of time alone, Toth set about exploring his daemons. Perhaps over celebrating his his 30th birthday, he was arrested for a driving-related incident and subsequently spent the evening in jail. By the end of the tour he had also split with both his manager and record label.

However, this extreme period in his life also produced an intense writing period, and by the end of 2008 Toth had written and recorded over 50 new songs. Perhaps the most personal, but certainly the most direct album of his career, 'Born Bad' is the first collection of material released from this period. Released under the name Wand, the record has been put out in association with the People In A Position To Know label as a limited colored vinyl release, complete with lyric sheet and hand-screened covers.

'Born Bad' sounds like a rebirth, there is a clarity in this record that has not been as acutely evident on his previous efforts both as Wooden Wand and James Jackson Toth. The recordings are uncluttered and the song-writing focused. 'Born Bad' is most certainly a triumph in the face of adversity.

2009 is set to be a busy year for Toth. He is currently in the process of recording another new album (provisionally titled 'Remembrance Of Things Trashed') with a new band (un-provisionally titled The Jescos). You can follow his progress here: www.tothtellsthetruth.blogspot.com. Before this, Ecstatic Peace is set to release 'Hard Knox or Are You Sure Hank Jr Done It This Way?' on May 26th, a collection of Wooden Wand demos and home recordings made between October 2002 and January of 2007.

MP3: Wand - Shaving Cold
MP3: Wand - Agent Of Destruction

James Jackson Toth on Myspace
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Previously on SOTR: James Jackson Toth

Kurt Vile

2009-04-02T15:49:00.000+01:00

Photo by Sarah McKay
On constant rotation on my stereo this week has been 'God Is Saying This To You' a 12" mini-lp by Kurt Vile (out on Mexican Summer Records), a compilation of tracks from 'Overnite KV', a tour-only CDR made in conjunction with a European tour of Vile's other project The War on Drugs, along with a handful of extra tracks recorded specifically for this release.

Less uptempo than both his solo debut album 'Constant Hitmaker' and his work with The War on Drugs, 'God Is Saying This To You' presents Vile as a skilled, highly individual singer/songwriter mixing elements of subtle psychedelia, bluesy guitar and organic lo-fi sonic experimentation; part Jandek, part Devendra, part Panda Bear, entirely fresh and entirely original.

MP3: Kurt Vile - Beach On The Moon (Recycled Lyrics)
MP3: Kurt Vile - Red Apples

Kurt Vile on Myspace
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Matching Mole

2009-04-02T14:18:00.000+01:00

Another post in the continuing list of songs that I find myself becoming obsessed with. This time the song is "O Caroline" by Matching Mole.

Matching Mole was a prog rock band from the famous 'Canterbury scene' that spawned such bands as Soft Machine, Caravan, Comus and Gong.

The band was formed by Robert Wyatt in 1971 after he had left Soft Machine. Wyatt took on the role of vocals and drums and was joined by David Sinclair (Caravan) on organ and piano, Phil Miller on guitar and Bill MacCormick on bass. The name Matching Mole was chosen as it was a pun on Machine Molle, the French translation of the name Soft Machine.

"O Caroline" is taken from the bands eponymous first album and was composed by Dave Sinclair with lyrics by Wyatt about his recent breakup with girlfriend Caroline Coon and is a tender piano based love song laced with mellotron and organ layers that form a fuzzy, warm background to Wyatt's fragile vocal. Dig!

MP3: Matching Mole - O Caroline

Matching Mole on Myspace
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Iron & Wine: The Shepherd's Dog Acousitc

2009-04-01T15:50:00.000+01:00

Ironandwine.com has eight acoustic versions of songs from The Shepherd's Dog from 2007 available to download for free. It sounds great. As a fan of their earlier work, I kind of prefer these versions in many ways to those that ended up on the final record. There is a taster below, or go here for the whole thing. Click here to see the artwork for the forthcoming rarities compilation 'Around the Well'.

MP3: Iron & Wine - Flightless Bird, American Mouth (Acoustic Version)

Iron & Wine on Myspace
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Previously on SOTR: Iron & Wine
Previously on SOTR: Nick Drake Covers

Nick Drake Covers

2009-03-31T16:22:00.000+01:00

My post the other week on Nick Drake got me listening to a whole bunch of Nick Drake, but also got me listening to a whole bunch of Nick Drake covers. I had no idea that I owned so many, but I guess that is a downside of a culture where everything is available at the click of a button, you take and take and take and it becomes easy lose track of what you actually have.

I have gathered together some of my favorite Drake covers below. If you enjoy the Damien Jurado song, may I recommend you seek out the full five track 'EP' of Nick Drake songs that he made which is floating around out there. Not posted below, but also worth mentioning are Swans' cover of 'Black Eyed Dog', Elton John's Joe Boyd produced demos from 1968 and Christopher O'Riley's classical piano take on the work of Nick Drake, 'Second Grace'.

MP3: Damien Jurado - Rider On The Wheel (Nick Drake Cover)
MP3: Beck - Pink Moon (Nick Drake Cover)
MP3: Iron & Wine - Place To Be (Nick Drake Cover)
MP3: Lucinda Williams - Which Will (Nick Drake Cover)

Previously on SOTR: Nick Drake

People In A Position To Know

2009-03-31T12:58:00.000+01:00

With the music industry in free fall and the demand for physical recorded music product declining at unprecedented speed, I have often caught myself pondering solutions that may reverse or at least slow down this trend. One idea that is hardly rocket science, but raises it's head time and again is for labels or artists to actually create a desirable product, not just musically but physically, something that can be fetishized and make you feel like you own something of some substance, something special.

A fine example of this in action is happening at PIAPTK, otherwise known as People In A Position To Know Recordings, Inc. a limited edition vinyl only record label run out of the bedroom, garage and living room of a high school teacher in Olympia, WA called Mike Dixon.

PIAPTK offer two types of records. Full press "traditional" records made in a pressing plant and lathe cut records , which are the more exciting proposition. The lathe cut records are one-off, ultra low run records, made one at a time in New Zealand by a man named Peter King. Via this process each record cut is completely unique. The desirability does not stop at the records themselves, as many of the records that PIAPTK release come in unique, painstakingly handmade packaging which has in the past ranged from individually silk-screened covers and records issued in burlap sacks to hand knitted covers. It is as though the process of manufacturing the releases becomes an extension of the artistic process of making the music, not just a function in the release cycle.

With records already released on the label from Wooden Wand, Karl Blau, Norfolk & Western and Viking Moses, amongst others, it really feels as though this kind of approach from the past holds some kind of key to the future.

People In A Position To Know Recordings on Myspace
People In A Position To Know Recordings Website

Melody Nelson

2009-03-30T18:59:00.000+01:00

The brilliant Light In The Attic Records has just reissued Serge Gainsbourg's masterwork 'Histoire De Melody Nelson', a release which doubles as the records first ever official US release. As is usual for a Light In The Attic release, a lot of care and attention appears to have been put into the release: the CD comes with a 40 page deluxe booklet including extensive liner notes including the full lyrics (with English translations), plus a 1971 Q&A interview with Gainsbourg. The limited edition LP (2,000 copies) features notes on the album and comes in a gatefold "old school tip-on" jacket. Also available is a limited screen print (edition of 100) by Drew Christie. An image of which is at the top of this post.

MP3: Serge Gainsbourg - Valse De Melody

Serge Gainsbourg on Myspace
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Previously on SOTR: Serge Gainsbourg - Histoire de Melody Nelson

Dylan: For One Day Only

2009-03-30T18:33:00.000+01:00

(Image credit: Bruce Davidson)
Over at bobdylan.com they are giving away a free download of a new song "Boyond Here Lies Nothin'", taken from the forthcoming album 'Together Through Life'. Be quick because the download will only be on the site until midnight on 31st March.

Bob Dylan on Myspace
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Previously on SOTR: Bob Dylan

The Family Jams

2009-03-26T11:03:00.000Z

I am really excited about the forthcoming feature length documentary film 'The Family Jams'. Made by Curritick Co. mainman and part-time Vetiver member Kevin Barker the film follows Devendra Banhart, Joanna Newsom and Vetiver on their 2004 North American summer tour.

'The Family Jams' features performances by Devendra Banhart, Joanna Newsom, Vetiver, Anthony & The Johnsons, Espers, Meg Baird and Noah Georgeson's old band The Pleased.

The film will have its first public screening at the Sarasota Film Festival next month.

The Family Jams - Trailer

MP3: Kevin Barker - Amber
MP3: Vetiver - Los Pajaros Del Rio
MP3: Devendra Banhart - Canela

Kevin Barker on Myspace
Vetiver on Myspace
Devendra Banhart on Myspace
Joanna Newsom on Myspace

Previously on SOTR: Lauren Dukoff's Family
Previously on SOTR: I Must Be In A Good Place Now

Six Organs Of Admittance

2009-03-20T13:47:00.000Z

I came across an interesting piece this week with Ben Chasny from Six Organs Of Admittance with some of his opinions on file sharing and what he sees as an "addiction to information" devaluing music.

In the piece Chasny tells The Quietus: "I do believe we are becoming addicted to information. You only need to look at those people who have hard drives filled with songs that they have never even listened to. They are not even collecting music. They are collecting information. And the more people become addicted to information and the faster they can obtain that information, the less they will be able to contemplate that information, and it is the contemplation of the information which makes it art".

If you have a spare few minutes, I highly recommend reading the whole piece, Chasny makes some valid points that are really of relevance for artist such as Six Organs Of Admittance, who make music that benefits from, and grows with dedication from the listener. Music that requires a degree of attention that goes beyond the transience of the current file sharing era or the blog sphere.

That said, this is the medium that we are working in and it is via this medium that Six Organs Of Admittance music has perhaps reached a wider audience than it may have previously. Some will have "collected" files of SOOA music and paid it no mind, but others will have been exposed to the music and will have paid full attention to it going on to explore their fine and rich catalog in more depth. Hopefully you will be one of the latter.

MP3: Six Organs Of Admittance - Home
MP3: Six Organs Of Admittance - Sun Has Set

Video: Six Organs Of Admittance - All You've Left

Six Organs Of Admittance on Myspace
Support The Artist. Buy.Buy.Buy.

Previously on SOTR: Wild Tigers I Have Known

Nick Drake

2009-03-17T12:00:00.000Z

Artists can become so onmi-present in our lives and psyche that it is impossible to imagine the world without their music. When this happens for me, it is difficult to get perspective on reality - for instance, in my head Damien Jurado is as famous as Tom Cruise and Bert Jansch as popular as Michael Jackson. I get surprised if I receive blank stares when I talk to people about Little Wings or Bill Fay. Most surprising however, was a conversation I had last week which elicited the response "who is Nick Drake?". Ok, my grip on reality might not be completely solid, but I thought Nick Drake was someone who most 'music fans' had at least a passing knowledge of. Well... on the off chance that my recent conversation was not a one off, I figured i'd do a post on Nick Drake.

Largely under appreciated during his lifetime (none of his three studio albums sold more than 5,000 copies upon release), Nick Drake is one of the most influential singer-songwriters of the last 50 years.

Encourage by his mother, Drake took up music at a young age, initially learning to play the piano before getting his first acoustic guitar in 1965. It was around this time that Drake discovered the burgeoning British and American folk music scenes and was influences by musicians such as Bob Dylan, Jackson C. Frank and Bert Jansch.

He began performing in coffee houses and folk clubs around London, and in early 1968, while supporting Country Joe and the Fish in London, he came to the attention of Fairport Convention bass player Ashley Hutchings who was so impressed by Drake he introduced him to American producer Joe Boyd, owner of the production and management company Witchseason Productions, the man who had discovered Fairport Convention and the man responsible for introducing artists such as John Martyn and The Incredible String Band to a wider audience.

Drake and Boyd formed an immediate bond, and a four track demo, recorded in Drake's college room in early 1968, led Boyd to offer a management, publishing and production contract to the 20-year old Drake and to initiate work on a debut album. So with Boyd taking the role of producer, Nick Drake began recording his debut album 'Five Leaves Left'. Inspired by John Simon's production of Leonard Cohen's first album, Boyd was keen to record Drake's voice in a similar, intimate style, as well as to incorporate the kind of understated, complimentary string arrangements that had been executed so successfully by Simon. Frustrating and irregular recording sessions followed by post-production difficulties led to the release of the album being delayed by several months and the album was poorly marketed and supported when it finally came out. Although, Drake was reportedly unhappy with the final versions and felt the album to be somewhat unfinished, 'Five Leaves Left' is a stunning debut and possibly Drake's most positive sounding record.

Although the publicity and attention generated by 'Five Leaves Left' was minor, Boyd was keen to build on what momentum there was and work began on a follow up. 'Bryter Layter' (1970) saw Drake move away from the pastoral sound of his debut with the inclusion of bass and drum tracks on the recordings, along with more up-tempo, jazzy arrangements. The album featured musicians from Fairport Convention, as well as contributions from John Cale on two songs: "Northern Sky" and "Fly". Despite high expectations, 'Bryter Layter', like it predecessor, failed to have much commercial impact upon release. The disappointment of the lack of success with his records, couple with his mentor and friend Joe Boyd selling Witchseason to Island Records and moving to Los Angeles led Drake to retreat into depression and isolation. He was unhappy living alone, and had become visibly nervous and uncomfortable performing live.

Island Records were keen that Drake promote 'Bryter Layter' through press interviews, radio sessions and live appearances, however Drake, who was by this time smoking large amounts of cannabis and spiraling rapidly deeper into depression, flatly refused. By winter 1970, Drake is said to have completely isolated himself in London, rarely leaving his flat and withdrawing from both family and friends.

Although Island Records neither expected, nor particularly wanted a third album from the artist, Drake began work in October 1971 on what would be the last album he would finish in his lifetime. The sessions took place over two nights, with only Drake and his engineer present in the studio, the resultant album, 'Pink Moon' is a stark and bare record, but contains some of Drake's finest recordings, including the quite amazing title track and woozy "Place To Be".

Upon finishing the album, Drake delivered the master tapes to the front desk of the Island Records offices, placing them on the receptionist's desk and leaving without speaking to anyone. The tapes apparently lay there over the weekend, and remained unnoticed until later in the next week. Pink Moon went on to sell fewer copies than either of its predecessors, partly down to the artist's continued unwillingness to undertake any promotional activity and inability to play live in support of the record.

In the months following the release of 'Pink Moon', Drake returned to live with his parents. Friends have recalled the extent to which his appearance had changed, particularly during bleak periods of his illness, where he would refuse to wash his hair or cut his nails. In early 1972, Drake suffered a nervous breakdown and was hospitalized for five weeks.

At some time during the night of 24/25 November 1974, Nick Drake died at his parents home from an overdose of antidepressants. At the inquest that December, the coroner stated that the cause of death was as a result of "Acute amitriptyline poisoning—self administered when suffering from a depressive illness", and concluded a verdict of suicide.

For newcomers to the work of Nick Drake, I strongly recommend starting with the three studio albums made during his life; 'Five Leaves Left', 'Bryter Layter' and 'Pink Moon'. For those who want to dig a bit deeper, seek out the sadly deleted 'Time Of No Reply', which contains outtakes from the 'Five Leaves Left' sessions, home demos and Drakes final recordings. A couple of recent collections also do justice to Drake's legacy, most notably 'Made To Love Magic' which included some of the same outtakes and demos as 'Time Of No Reply', but adds a previously unreleased solo acoustic version of "River Man" and the song "Tow The Line", a previously unheard song from his final session in July 1974. The most recent addition to the list is 2007's 'Family Tree', which contains a number of home demos made by Drake prior to his first album.

MP3: Nick Drake - Saturday Sun
MP3: Nick Drake - Pink Moon
MP3: Nick Drake - Time Of No Reply

Nick Drake on Myspace
Support The Artist. Buy.Buy.Buy.

Bob Dylan

2009-03-16T19:42:00.000Z

Thanks to the world wide web all the Dylan bootlegs that I read about as a young man are available at the click of a button, and even though I exhaustively obsess over sessions for 'Desire' or 'Blood On The Tracks', comparing the outtakes to the finally chosen takes, there is always another entry point that feels fresh, un-exhausted, new. I don't think I'll ever get tired of Dylan, certain periods may interest me more, or less at one time or another, but as an over all body of work there is always going to be something to draw me in.

After reading David Fricke's piece in Rolling Stone earlier this month, announcing that Dylan's follow up to 'Modern Times' was due in April, I was interested to discover the album title 'Together Through Life' and see the album cover for the first time today. The jury is still out on the cover for me. Although it features one of my favorite photographs by one of my favorite photographers, Bruce Davidson, I still think I like it more when I see Dylan on the cover of a Dylan album, that said, I do prefer this to the cover for 'Modern Times'.

For anyone interested, the Dylan phase that I am currently in, primarily focuses around the album 'Oh Mercy'. The production of the album may not be as 'organic' as much of his best work, however there are songs on this record that sit shoulder to shoulder with some of Dylan's finest compositions.

MP3: ~~Bob Dylan - Most Of The Time~~

Bob Dylan on Myspace
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Strange Parallel

2009-03-16T13:29:00.001Z

Head on over to the newly spruced up Pitchfork where, for one week only, they are showing the Elliott Smith documentary/short film 'Strange Parallel'.

I had this film a long time ago on a video bootleg, but watching it again reminded me of how much Elliott Smith's music meant, and indeed still means, to me.

'Strange Parallel' was made in 1998 as a promo around the time that Smith signed to Dreamworks and released the album 'XO'. By no means a straight up promotional film, the short begins with a film crew looking for a reclusive Smith, who we find in a wood, digging up a guitar and playing a lovely version of "Waltz #2 (XO)" cross legged in the dirt.

The film follows Elliott Smith from a recording session in Portland to New York where it splits off on a surreal tangent about a robot hand, which was based on a dream that Smith had discussed with director Steve Hanft. Amongst many highlights, 'Strange Parallel' features a beautiful, but brief, rendition of the George Harrison song "Isn't It A Pity?" played by Smith alone at the piano.

Ghosts In The Snow has some fantastic stills from 'Strange Parallel' here.

If you don't have the appetite or inclination to watch the whole 30 minutes plus of 'Strange Parallel', or even if you do, I highly recommend seeking out and watching the 1996 Jem Cohen short 'Lucky Three', which is a stunning 11 minute short film that features Elliott Smith playing "Between The Bars" and "Angeles" from the album 'Either/Or', as well as a cover of Big Star's "Thirteen".

Watch: Strange Parallel

MP3: ~~Elliott Smith - Miss Misery~~
MP3: ~~Elliott Smith - I Don't Think I'm Ever Gonna Figure It Out~~

Elliott Smith on Myspace
Support The Artist. Buy.Buy.Buy.

Previously on SOTR: Elliott Smith

Papercuts

2009-03-06T14:10:00.002Z

This year is already shaping up to be a belter with brilliant new albums already out from Alela Diane and Phosphorescent and records from Bonnie 'Prince Billy, Smog, Wilco, Akron/Family, Bob Dylan and Neil Young, amongst others, to look forward to. One album that I am really looking forward to is 'You Can Have What You Want' by Papercuts.

Papercuts is a band led by and centered around Jason Quever who makes dreamy, old fashioned, Velvets inspired pop music. I discovered Papercuts via Quever's work with Skygreen Leopards, Donovan Quinn and Vetiver.

Papercuts released two albums in the early 2000s: 'Rejoicing Songs' and 'Mockingbird' before signing to the Devendra Banhart and Andy Cabic label Gnomonsong and releasing 'Can’t Go Back' in early 2007. Quever's use of vintage sounds and arrangements gives his songs a feel which makes you believe you have known them forever.'You Can Have What You Want' is released in April and continues Quever's exploration of the possibilities of happy-sad analogue pop.

MP3: ~~Papercuts - Unavailable~~
MP3: ~~Papercuts - Dear Employee~~
MP3: Papercuts - Future Primitive (Courtesy of Gnomonsong)

Papercuts on Myspace
Support The Arist. Buy.Buy.Buy.

Bonnie 'Prince' Billy - 'I Am Goodbye' video

2009-03-06T12:05:00.001Z

The artist that I am consistently listening to most so far this year is Bonnie 'Prince' Billy. So it was with delight that I came across the video for 'I Am Goodbye', a track taken from the forthcoming long player 'Beware'. Check it out below, this is a simple video that proves in these hard financial times for the music industry that it is possible to make a charming visual accompaniment to a song on virtually zero budget.

Video: Bonnie 'Prince' Billy - I Am Goodbye

MP3: ~~Bonnie 'Prince' Billy - I Am Goodbye~~

Bonnie 'Prince' Billy on Myspace
Support The Artist. Buy.Buy.Buy.

Previously on SOTR: Will Oldham

Donovan Quinn

2009-03-05T21:05:00.001Z

Donovan Quinn is a singer-songwriter from San Francisco, possibly better known to readers of this blog as one half of The Skygreen Leopards (along with Glenn Donaldson). Quinn has released a couple of enchanting 'solo' albums, 2007's 'October Lanterns' and 2008's 'Donovan Quinn & the 13th Month'.

The son of Dave Carter, from the legendary 60's psychedelic rock group Country Weather and named after Donovan Leitch, Quinn began writing songs at a young age. 2001 saw the release of the first Skygreen Leopards CD-R, with whom he has since released several records.

'October Lanterns' , Quinn's first album on his own (not counting various bits and bobs released under the Verdure moniker), is an enchanting, melancholic record that showcases it's authors singular vision and goes someway to shedding an intriguing light on Quinn's input and role in the Skygreen Leopards.

'Donovan Quinn & the 13th Month', released on the fantastic Soft Abuse label, expands on the template set by 'October Lanterns' both sonically and structurally . Aided by a small group of friends & collaborators known as 13th Month (including Jason Quever of Papercuts), Quinn explores his own dark fascinations and influences, including Skip Spence, Basement Tapes-era Bob Dylan and The Jacobites.

MP3: ~~Donovan Quinn & the 13th Month - Quarantine~~
MP3: ~~Donovan Quinn & the 13th Month - Halloween Candle~~

Video: Donovan Quinn & the 13th Month - Sister Alchemy

Donovan Quinn & the 13th Month on MySpace
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Previously on SOTR: The Skygreen Leopards

Privacy - 'Goodnight Canyon' video

2009-03-05T15:39:00.000Z

I came across this video for 'Goodnight Canyon' by Privacy. If you missed my previous post on the band, their album 'Without Mercy' is really worth seeking out.

MP3: Privacy - Goodnight Canyon

Marriage Records on Myspace
Support The Artist. Buy. Buy. Buy.

Previously on SOTR: Privacy

Arthur Russell

2009-03-04T12:09:00.001Z

Occasionally.. well, more like semi-frequently, a song comes along and I obsess over it, play it on a constant rotation, analyze its structure, dissect its lyrics etc etc. Most recently this has happened to me with the Arthur Russell song 'A Little Lost'.

Subject of the recent documentary film 'Wild Combination', Russell was an avant-garde cellist and composer who was relatively unknown during his lifetime, but thanks to a series of reissues in recent years, his vast and varied catalog of work has found many fans.

After moving to San Fransisco at the age of 18, Russell met Allen Ginsberg, with whom he began to accompany at poetry readings, playing cello while Ginsberg read. In the early seventies Russell moved to New York where he became heavily involved in the avant-garde scene. As the decade progressed Russell became heavily involved in New York's nascent underground disco scene, he would go on to write and produce a number of influential and experimental disco (and later dance) records.

During the eighties Russell worked with a number of music's more esoteric luminaries, including Phillip Glass, Robert Wilson and Gavin Bryars. Russell died of AIDS on April 4, 1992, at the age of 40.

After a string of releases taken from Russell's vast archive of previously unreleased music, Rough Trade last year released 'Love Is Overtaking Me', a record that showcases the artists singer-songwriter side, collecting the best of his previously unreleased folk, pop, and country influenced work. This is the place I would recommend readers of this blog to start.

MP3: ~~Arthur Russell - A Little Lost~~
MP3: ~~Arthur Russell - Nobody Wants A Lonely Heart~~

Arthur Russell on Myspace
Support The Artist. Buy.Buy.Buy.

Lauren Dukoff's Family

2009-02-18T17:58:00.001Z

Image Credits: Lauren Dukoff
"Family", an exhibition of Lauren Dukoff's photos opens this week at San Francisco's Eleanor Harwood Gallery, with a book of the same name (published by Chronicle Books) following in May this year.

Dukoff has photographed close friend and musician Devendra Banhart and an extended, loose-knit international family of artists, as well as a range of other musical influences over the course of the last few years.

"Family" collects 100 of Dukoff’s photographs of Banhart, Joanna Newsom, Feathers, Espers, Vetiver, Bert Jansch, Vashti Bunyan, Linda Perhacs, Matteah Baim and many others. The books foreword was written by Devendra Banhart, it also features text and artwork by the musicians, biographies, and a digital download of music by artists featured.

MP3: ~~Devendra Banhart - Freely~~
MP3: ~~Devendra Banhart - This Is The Way~~

Lauren Dukoff on Myspace
Devendra Banhart on Myspace
Support The Artist. Buy.Buy.Buy.

Previously on SOTR: London, London

Phosphorescent

2009-02-17T13:39:00.001Z

Being so used to records leaking far ahead of their prescribed release date it is easy to lose track of when albums actually come out these days and maybe I am a dying breed, but i like to know this information so that I can actually buy them.

One such example is 'To Willie' by Phosphorescent, an album that I first got my hands on in November last year. I completely forgot that the album wasn't out yet.. well, now it is. As previously reported within these hallowed pages, 'To Willie' is a fantastic record that presents Matthew Houck as a fine interpreter of the songs of others and continues the growth in clarity of sound that Phosphorescent have managed with each album they have released.

MP3: Phosphorescent - ~~Can I Sleep In Your Arms~~
MP3: Phosphorescent - ~~It's Not Supposed To Be That Way~~

Phosphorescent on Myspace
Support The Artist. Buy.Buy.Buy.

Previously on SOTR: Phosphorescent

Akron/Family

2009-02-16T15:55:00.002Z

Akron/Family have just revealed the artwork (below) and tracklisting for their forthcoming album 'Set 'Em Wild, Set 'Em Free' (due out in May on Dead Oceans). I managed to procure an advanced copy and am happy to report that it is a fine record. Although this is their first album made as a three piece, the record is as dense and populated with sounds, tempos and idea as anything they have ever made, it sees the band continues to evolve from its psych folk beginnings to a fuller psych rock sound, incorporating African rhythms and elements of free jazz amongst others.

In an age where the individual track is king, Akron/Family continue to make fully realized long players that work best as long form pieces (this is a compliment). However, the band are not completely at odds with the times and have just starting 'tweeting' on Twitter.

MP3: ~~Akron/Family - Gone Beyond~~
MP3: ~~Akron/Family - I'll Be On The Water~~

Akron/Family on Myspace
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Previously on SOTR: Akron/Family

Iron & Wine

2009-02-13T12:40:00.001Z

Around the time that 'The Creek Drank The Cradle' was released, Iron & Wine were one of my favorite bands in the world, and that record still does it for me almost seven years on. At the time they were one of the first bands that I was into that had a treasure trove of songs floating around online, 7 inches and b-sides like "Dearest Forsaken" "Call Your Boys" and "Carissa's Weird", compilation tracks like "Peng! 33" and "Waitin' For A Superman" and then eventually the full set of demos for 'The Creek Drank The Cradle' and 'Our Endless Numbered Days' became widely available.

Sam Beam has always seemed to be the kind of artist who is never short of material and this is backed up by the announcement of 'Around the Well', an Iron & Wine rarities compilation. The tracklisting covers the bands entire career to date including three songs recorded for the film 'In Good Company', but never released; “Belated Promise Ring,” “God Made the Automobile” and “Homeward, These Shoes.”

There are a few omissions, most notably "Carissa's Weird", "Her Tea Leaves", "We All, Us Three, Will Ride", "Ab's Song", "Overhead" and "Red Dust", but this really is just nit picking over what looks like a fantastic compilation and worthy addition to the Iron & Wine catalogue.

'Around the Well' will be released by Sub Pop in May as a 2 CD and 3 LP set.

MP3: ~~Iron & Wine - Her Tea Leaves~~
MP3: ~~Iron & Wine - God Made the Automobile (Live)~~

Iron & Wine on Myspace
Support The Artist. Buy.Buy.Buy.

Previously on SOTR: Iron & Wine

John Phillips - John Phillips (John The Wolfking of L.A.)

2009-02-12T13:08:00.001Z

Most widely know for his work in The Mamas And The Papas, John Phillips' debut solo album 'John Phillips (John The Wolfking of L.A.)' is a work that, for me, surpasses his previous band's output and showcases an amazing talent at the height of his creativity.

Phillips began work on the album at a crossroads in his life. The Mamas And The Papa had just split up, as had Phillips and his then wife Michelle, and this sense of dislocation is referenced in the albums lyrical content. The most abiding sentiments conveyed are those of world-weariness and melancholy, with Phillips casting himself as a lonely observer in this heavily populated world. Musically the record is for the most part laid back, mellow groove music incorporating elements of country, folk and rock 'n roll. The playing is first rate with Phillips being backed by the cream of session musicians (Phil Spector's Wrecking Crew), steel guitar player Orville "Red" Rhodes & Elvis Presley guitarist James Burton.

Released in 1970 and largely overlooked at time of release 'John Phillips (John The Wolfking of L.A.)' remains one of the earliest and indeed finest examples of the burgeoning 'country rock' movement of the time.

MP3: ~~John Phillips - Malibu People~~
MP3: ~~John Phillips - Holland Tunnel~~

John Phillips website
Support The Artist. Buy.Buy.Buy.

talons'

2009-02-11T12:21:00.001Z

Undoubtedly my favorite musical discovery of 2008, I first came across the genius of talons' main man Mike Tolan at the end of 2007, via a version of the truly amazing Tolan original, "Fuck Everything" played by Six Parts Seven (a band with which Tolan is a sometime member) on their Daytrotter session. After the song became a constant for me at the beginning of 2008, I began to do some digging and subsequently contacted Tolan via talons' myspace page offering to buy anything and everything he had committed to tape. He sent me a handful of hand-made, self released titles, including one of my albums of last year 'Songs For Babes', and to my delight the quality of the initial song that sparked my interest was repeated throughout everything that I heard.

Talons' primarily make beautifully crafted lo-fi recordings, short, concise songs presented with spare, but brilliantly executed instrumentation, ambient background noise, tape hiss and hushed vocals.

Tolan explains the bands concept in a document that accompanies all of talons' recordings (which he has made available for free online):
"The idea was to write folk songs, but not in the normal way. I love folk music, but I have some problems with it too. Mainly the idea of 'Song structures" is confining and makes for some boring songs.." "I write deconstructed folk songs, often without a chorus or maybe without more than one verse: direct songs that get to the point and then end. I feel that every word and note should have a purpose or be removed."

MP3: ~~talons' - Fuck Everything~~
MP3: ~~talons' - Ponytail~~
MP3: ~~talons' - Nicole~~

Download: The "complete" talons' library

talons' on Myspace
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Previously on SOTR: Sweetheart Of The Radio: Albums of the year 2008

Will Oldham

2009-02-10T12:27:00.000Z

I have been meaning to post on Will Oldham for a while now, but for one reason or another something else has always come first. Well, with the new Bonnie 'Prince' Billy album 'Beware' out in less than a months time, I am making my move...and with Valentines day just a few days away - if I tack on the Palace Music song of the same name to the post, it looks like it has a purpose.

MP3: ~~Bonnie 'Prince' Billy - Brokedown Palace (Grateful Dead cover)~~
MP3: ~~Palace Music - Valentines Day~~

Bonnie 'Prince' Billy on Myspace
Support The Artist. Buy.Buy.Buy.

Previously on SOTR: The Letting Go & Daytrotter Sessions

Blossom Dearie

2009-02-09T14:07:00.002Z

April 28, 1926 – February 7, 2009

MP3: ~~Blossom Dearie - Figure 8~~ (Removed By Request)

Blossom Dearie Wiki

Bill Callahan

2009-02-06T22:57:00.000Z

Image credit: kirstiecat
Th excellent Microphones In The Trees has posted three tracks (seemingly taped off the radio) from the forthcoming Bill Callahan album 'Sometimes I Wish I Were An Eagle', and I am pleased to report they sound fantastic! Check them out for yourself here.

Mp3: ~~Bill Callahan - A Man Needs A Woman Or A Man To Be A Man~~
Mp3: ~~Smog - Bowery~~

Bill Callahan on Myspace
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Kath Bloom

2009-02-06T18:02:00.000Z

Whether or not Kath Bloom will "do a Vashti", I am not so sure, but it is a joy to see an artist like this begin to get the appreciation and attention that she deserves. And the Kath Bloom appreciation society is sure to grow in the coming months with the release of the forthcoming record 'Loving Takes This Course: A Tribute to the Songs of Kath Bloom', which features a disc of covers by the likes of Bill Callahan, Devendra Banhart, Josephine Foster, Meg Baird and Scout Niblett, alongside a second disc of the Bloom originals.

The daughter of world-renowned oboist Robert Bloom, Kath Bloom was born and raised in New Haven, CT, where she initially trained as a cellist before taking up the guitar. After meeting and beginning a relationship with avant-garde guitarist Loren Mazzacane Connors in 1976, the two teamed up for a series of recordings spanning a number of years; of their out-put - some records were released in editions of as few as 50, most no more than 300 copies, until the duo released their final collaboration in 1984. Bloom took a sabbatical from music and "entered a period of child-rearing and family life".

Bloom began to make music again in the early 1990s, self-releasing a number of cassettes and CD-Rs. It was around this time that the film director Richard Linklater discovered Bloom’s music and featured the song "Come Here" in his 1995 movie 'Before Sunrise'. After an initial flurry of interest, little came of the exposure, indeed it was not until ten years later that Bloom's music hit a wider audience, with the release of the album 'Finally' on Chapter Music in 2006.

Ahead of the release of 'Loving Takes This Course: A Tribute to the Songs of Kath Bloom', Bloom will be playing a few shows in the US, including a couple in Californa with SOTR favorites Little Wings & Be-Gulls.

MP3: ~~Kath Bloom & Loren Connors - The Breeze/My Baby Cries~~
MP3: ~~Kath Bloom & Loren Connors - It's So Hard To Come Home~~

MP3: ~~Bill Callahan - The Breeze/My Baby Cries(Kath Bloom Cover)~~

Kath Bloom on Myspace
Support The Artist. Buy.Buy.Buy

(see comments section below for bonus track)

Spider

2009-02-06T12:25:00.000Z

Lazily browsing my inbox this morning, I was surprised and delighted to see a message from Jane Herships, who releases records under the name Spider, and who I wrote about on this very blog what feels like a lifetime ago. Much has happened since then, including a re-release of the quite brilliant 'The Way To Bitter Lake' album. The record was re-mixed, re-mastered, packaged in a beautiful gate-fold cardboard wallet with big fold out insert and put out by Storyboard Records.

Now Herships is in the process of finishing a second Spider album, 'Things We Liked To Hold', which will hopefully be out in late spring. Below is a taster of things to come, a new song called "White Snake", as well as a quite sublime version of Neil Young's 'Motion Pictures'.

MP3: ~~Spider - White Snake~~
MP3: ~~Spider - Motion Pictures (Neil Young Cover)~~

Spider on Myspace
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Previously On SOTR: Spider - 'The Way To Bitter Lake'

John Martyn

2009-01-29T23:48:00.001Z

September 11, 1948 – January 29, 2009

MP3: ~~John Martyn - May You Never~~
MP3: ~~John And Beverley Martyn - Go Out & Get It~~

John Martyn Wiki

Doug Paisley

2009-01-27T12:57:00.000Z

Doug Paisley is a songwriter, singer and guitar player from Toronto, Canada. He makes beautiful, warm pieces of laid back Americana. The first time I listened to his debut (self titled) album, I got butterflies in my stomach. Guy Clark is an obvious reference point, but this is a record that holds up on its own, using the strength of its influences to create a fine stand alone work. No song would sound out of place on the old Loose Records 'New Sounds Of The Old West' compilations, which, for me, is high praise indeed.

Recently Paisley has toured California with visual artist Shary Boyle opening for Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy. Performing as Dark Hand and Lamplight, their show combines Boyle’s overhead projections and Paisley’s songs.

MP3: ~~Doug Paisley - Broken In Two~~
MP3: ~~Doug Paisley - Digging In the Ground~~

Doug Paisley on Myspace
Support The Artist. Buy.Buy.Buy.

Wild Tigers I Have Known

2009-01-21T17:26:00.000Z

Image Credit: Cam Archer

I was thinking about threads and the many ways that one can find new songs and bands in the ever expanding mix of technology..I don't quite know where i am going with this, except to say I was listening to the Emily Jane White song "Wild Tigers I Have Known", which led me to a film of the same name, which led me to it soundtrack, which contained a whole bunch of goodness, including a Six Organs Of Admittance song that I had not heard for the longest time, "The Night Knows Nothing At All" (from 'For Octavio Paz') and a song called "Mighty" by Djuna Bel, who as far as I can tell appears to be one of the films producers, whoever she is, the song has blown me away.

MP3: ~~Emily Jane White - Wild Tigers I Have Known~~
MP3: ~~Six Organs Of Admittance - The Night Knows Nothing At All~~
MP3: ~~Djuna Bel - Mighty~~

Emily Jane White on Myspace
Wild Tigers I Have Know on Myspace

Support The Artist. Buy.Buy.Buy.

Alela Diane

2009-01-13T17:06:00.000Z

February 17th sees the release of 'To Be Still', the follow-up album to Alela Diane's quite fantastic 2006 debut 'The Pirate's Gospel'. A video for the lead track from the new record has premiered today on Pitchfork.

New songs "To Be Still", "White As Diamonds", "Age Old Blues", "The Alder Trees", "Dry Grass and Shadows" & "My Brambles" can be heard on Alela Diane's Daytrotter Sessions (1 + 2) from last year.

MP3: ~~Alela Diane - White As Diamonds~~
MP3: ~~Alela Diane - Dry Grass And Shadows~~

Alela Diane on Myspace
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Peter Broderick

2009-01-08T12:50:00.000Z

Image credit: PB
Peter Broderick is something of an audacious musical talent. Working as a session musician at various recording studios in his native Oregon he has appeared on a wealth of fine albums including Dolorean's 'You Cant Win', 'Volume 1' by She & Him, Horse Feathers' 'Words Are Dead', White Hinterland's 'Phylactery Factory, 'Gilded Age' and 'The Unsung Colony' by Norfolk & Western, as well as M. Ward's forthcoming long player 'Hold Time'.

To date he has released three exquisite records; the sparse, beautiful, piano led 10" release 'Docile', 'Float' which builds on the piano base of 'Docile' with added strings and the use of tape loops & his third and most recent record 'Home', which is primarily a folk records that incorporates Broderick's "two favorite instruments", guitar and voice.

In 2007, after developing "MySpace friendship" with the Danish band Efterklang, Broderick uped-sticks from his Portland, Oregon home and relocated to Denmark to join the band in their Copenhagen base. It was after this move that Broderick went into the studio to record 'Home'.

Without wishing to take anything away from the individuality and beauty of 'Home', this is a record that sits perfectly as a companion piece to the Bon Iver record 'To Emma, Forever Ago'. Both certainly occupy the same sonic space and consist of similar textures and moods.

Broderick's immediate plans include more collaborations with Efterklang, various film score work and a series of solo shows in the US and the UK. All this and the kid is still only 21.

MP3: Peter Broderick - ~~And It's Alright~~
MP3: Peter Broderick - ~~With The Notes In My Ears~~

Peter Broderick on Myspace
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Previously On SOTR: Horse Feathers

Feathers

2009-01-07T12:21:00.001Z

Image Credit: Courtney Brooke

2009 is already lining up to be a good year with new records in the pipelines from Alela Diane, Vetiver, Akron/Family, Bonnie 'Prince' Billy, Bill Callahan, Bruce Springsteen, Wooden Shjips, M Ward, Grizzly Bear, Ramblin' Jack Elliott, Bosque Brown, Marissa Nadler and Jim White to name but a few; as well as the long awaited Neil Young Archives Volume One.

One band I would love to see a new long player from this year is Feathers. Their sole commercially released full length effort (there are a few of self released cd-r's out there that the band sold at live shows) 2006's 'Feathers' released via Devendra Banhart and Andy Cabic’s Gnomonsong label is a psych folk gem.

Recorded at the home of founder member Kyle Thomas on an old 1/4 inch 8-track reel-to-reel, the eight member group forge a unique recorded dynamic, a multi textured, multi shaded sound which is in part down to the communal input of the group; four members contributed to the songwriting with at least that many contributing beautifully harmonized vocals, but is also in part, down to the varied instrumental textures on show; acoustic and electric guitars sit along side, harp, banjo, sitar, clarinet, synthesizers and seemingly whatever else the group could get their hands on.

The band ethos and feel reminds me of that seen in the Incredible String Band documentary film "Be Glad for the Song Has No Ending", but Feathers go beyond being mere revivalists, the sophistication of composition and arrangements provide an authenticity that many of their peers fail to achieve.

MP3: ~~Feathers - Past The Moon~~
MP3: ~~Feathers - Tiny Lights~~

Download: Feathers - Dublab Live Session

Feathers On Myspace
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Ron Asheton

2009-01-06T15:42:00.000Z

17th July, 1948 - January, 2009

MP3: ~~The Stooges - I Wanna Be Your Dog~~

Ron Asheton Wiki

Freddie Hubbard

2009-01-06T00:03:00.001Z

7th April, 1938 – 29th December, 2008

MP3: ~~Freddie Hubbard - Lament For Booker~~

Freddie Hubbard Wiki

Castanets

2008-12-23T11:32:00.000Z

Image credit: Suziemixer
Hot on the heels of an appearance in the SOTR albums of 2008, Castanets have recorded a session for the Indiana based, My Old Kentucky Blog related LaundroMatinee.

Ray Raposa played three songs during the session, Prettiest Chain and two brand new as-yet-untitled songs. Click here to download the session tracks on MP3 and watch the session (an example of which is below).

Castanets~Untitled #1 from LaundroMatinee on Vimeo.

MP3: ~~Castanets - After The Fall~~

Bonus:
MP3: Castanets - Sway From 'In The Pines' (courtesy of Asthmatic Kitty)
MP3: Castanets - Glory B From 'City Of Refuge' (courtesy of Asthmatic Kitty)

Castanets on Myspace
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Previously on SOTR: Albums Of The Year 2008
Previously on SOTR: Castanets

Winter Folk

2008-12-21T11:54:00.000Z

Image credit: Joanna Pallaris

01. Advice - Super Daughter
02. Brigidine - The Shoreline
03. Heron - Jon Hopkins
04. Pinecone eyes - Lesser Gonzalez Alvarez
05. The Cuckoo - John Renbourn
06. Francesca - Roy Harper
07. The Waltze Of The Tennis Players - Meg Baird
08. Come Sing Me A Happy Song To Prove We All Can Get Along The Lumpy, Bumpy, Long and Dusty Road - Bert Jansch
09. All This Crazy Gift Of Time - Kevin Ayers
10. Pack Up Your Sorrows - Richard & Mimi Farina
11. Endless Evening Light - Fleet Foxes
12. At First She Starts - James Yorkston
13. Hooves - Bowerbirds
14. home - Breathe Owl Breathe
15. Oh Celebrate Your Vague Words and Coquettish Sovereignty - Boduf Songs
16. Love In Ice Crystals - The Sallyangie
17. Willow's Song - Rachel Verney & Magnet
18. Wolves' Pup - Six Organs Of Admittance
19. In A Notebook - Goldmund
20. Famous Blue Raincoat - Marissa Nadler
21. Chimacum Rain - Linda Perhacs
22. Dark Is The Night (In The Wind) - Arborea
23. Migrating Bird - Vashti Bunyan
24. end - The Rural Tradition

Download Winter Folk zip

David Crosby - If I Could Only Remember My Name

2008-12-18T15:22:00.000Z

In 1971, David Crosby released his first solo album 'If I Could Only Remember My Name'. It was an album that would artistically break new ground for it's author, with its lush acoustics, layered harmonies and organically sharp production, however it was a record born from extremes in Crosby's life and there is an enduring sense of melancholy pervading the whole piece.

A founding member of Byrds, David Crosby had contributed writing or co-writing credits on a number of the bands best songs including "Everybody's Been Burned", "Eight Miles High", "Renaissance Fair", "Draft Morning" & "Tribal Gathering" and after the formation of Crosby, Still & Nash (/& Young), he found room to grow and such Crosby originals as "Long Time Gone", "Guinnevere", Wooden Ships" & "Deja Vu" became part of the bedrock of the soundtrack for a generation.

Shortly after the release of Déjà Vu, in mid 1970 CSN&Y took time out and Crosby began working on his first solo album with Stephen Barncard, who had just finished work on recording 'American Beauty' with the Grateful Dead. The sessions that followed were the musical embodiment of some incredible extremes in Crosby's life at the time. On the positive side he was experiencing great creative freedom and joy at the artistic, critical and commercial success of CSN&Y, on the negative side he was trying to come to terms with his girlfriend Christine Hilton's sudden death in a car crash only month earlier as well as the death of the sixties embodied by the war in Vietnam, the Manson killings, Altamont and the deaths of Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix.

With the help of a great cast of players including Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, Graham Nash, members of both the Grateful Dead and Jefferson Airplane, Crosby produced one of the great (but criminally under-appreciated) masterpieces of the era. "If I Could Only Remember My Name" is a free floating record that perfectly encapsulates the late sixties/early seventies California country/folk rock movement, but also transcends the movement completely to almost stand alone, as all great art has the ability to do. Graham Nash summed up the album most succinctly when he described it as "the perfect organic listening experience".

Although the complete magic of "If I Could Only Remember My Name" is fully appreciated when listening to the album as a whole, key tracks include the mantra like album opener of "Music Is Love", the epic shuffle of "Cowboy Movie", the melancholy harmony of "Orleans" and the magical groove of "Tamalpais High (At About 3)".

MP3: ~~David Crosby - Music Is Love~~
MP3: ~~David Crosby - Cowboy Movie~~

Link: "If I Could Only Remember My Name" - 1970 Session Outtakes (courtesy of Aquariam Drunkard)

David Crosby on Myspace
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Davy Graham

2008-12-17T15:37:00.000Z

22nd November, 1940 - 15th December, 2008

MP3: ~~Davy Graham - Anji~~
MP3: ~~Shirley Collins And Davy Graham - Pretty Saro~~
MP3: ~~Davy Graham - She Moved Through The Fair~~

Davy Graham Wiki

Sweetheart Of The Radio: Albums of the year 2008 (5 - 1)

2008-12-16T12:00:00.000Z

5. Willy Vlautin & Paul Brainard - Northline (Original Soundtrack)

MP3: ~~Willy Vlautin & Paul Brainard - The Bus Ride To Reno~~

Willy Vlautin Website
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4. Mount Eerie with Julie Doiron and Fred Squire - Lost Wisdom

MP3: ~~Mount Eerie with Julie Doiron and Fred Squire - You Swan, Go On~~

Mount Eerie Website
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3. Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes

MP3: ~~Fleet Foxes - Meadowlark~~

Fleet Foxes on Myspace
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2. Talons' - Songs For Babes

MP3: ~~Talons' - Nicole~~

Talons' on Myspace
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1. Damien Jurado - Caught In The Trees

MP3:~~Damien Jurado - Predictive Living~~

Damien Jurado's Caught In The Trees Blog
Damien Jurado on Myspace
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Previously on SOTR: Sweetheart Of The Radio: Albums of the year 2008 (10 - 6)

Sweetheart Of The Radio: Albums of the year 2008 (10 - 6)

2008-12-16T10:32:00.001Z

10. Goldmund - The Malady Of Elegance

MP3: ~~Goldmund - Finding It There~~

Goldmund on Myspace
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9. Megapuss - Surfing

MP3: ~~Megapuss - Duck People Duck Man~~

Megapuss on Myspace
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8. Castanets - City Of Refuge

MP3: ~~Castanets - Refuge 1~~

Castanets on Myspace
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7. Horse Feathers - House With No Home

MP3: ~~Horse Feathers - Helen~~

Horse Feathers on Myspace
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6. Karl Blau - Nature's Got Away

MP3: ~~Karl Blau - 2 Becomes 1~~

Karl Blau on Myspace
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Karl Blau

2008-12-15T15:15:00.000Z

Image credit: Gregory Carafelli
I don't know how Karl Blau managed to stay off my radar for so long, but a few months ago I saw the Microphones/Little Wings tour documentary 'Wise Old Little Boy' and as a result started digging deeper into the musical worlds of both bands. This is where Blau's work finally and thankfully hit my radar.

Karl Blau is a Anacortes, Washington based musician who has collaborated extensively with Phil Elverum (The Microphones/Mount Eerie) in the past, as well as recording with D+ and Young Heart Breaks & touring/recording with Laura Veirs - amongst many more things . His music is eclectic and he has been known to incorporate elements of folk, soul, dub, tropicalia, rock, hiphop and experimental noise. His most recent album 'Nature Got Away' is on the surface a more straightforward affair and the perfect entry point for anyone new to the world of Karl Blau. You can hear the whole of Nature's Got Away courtesy of K Records - here.

This was my entry point, along with a single released as part of the International Pop Underground: The Tom T. Hall song "That's How I Got to Memphis" covered by Mount Analog featuring vocals by Blau - which is one of the tracks posted below.

MP3: ~~Karl Blau - It's The Stars~~
MP3: ~~Mount Analog featuring Karl Blau - That's How I Got to Memphis~~

Video: Karl Blau - Mockingbird Diet

Karl Blau on Myspace
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Privacy

2008-12-11T12:04:00.000Z

There is a unique warmth in the softly strummed guitar and voice of Laurel Knapp that draws you in when listening to Privacy. The minimal arrangements blanketed by Knapp's breathy, smokey, sleepy singing produce an almost womb like listening experience and a peaceful simplicity that for me defies direct comparison with any other record released in recent memory.

'Without Mercy' (to date Privacy's only full length release - if you can call it full length... the 8 track album lasts for only 20 minutes) is a special, foggy, late night record that manages to be so much more than the sum of it's parts might on the surface suggest. 'Without Mercy' was released in 2006 on the wonderful Marriage records, a label founded by Laurel Knapp and her husband Curtis, along with Thanksgiving's Adrian Orange.

MP3: ~~Privacy - Goodnight Canyon~~
MP3: Privacy - Pining (courtesy of Marriage records)

Marriage Records on Myspace
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Fleet Foxes / Richard Swift

2008-12-10T12:33:00.000Z

Beginning my annual 'albums of the the year' review I was reminded of a couple of fantastic releases from 2008 that can't make the final list for one reason or another...well only one reason actually - they aren't albums...

The first, Fleet Foxes 'Sun Giant EP' - recorded after, but released before 'Fleet Foxes', feels like a step forward in the right direction from the bands debut album. Each of the songs easily stand shoulder to shoulder with the best tracks from what many critics (certainly in the UK) are calling the best album of 2008.

The second is 'Ground Trouble Jaw', a five track free digital EP from Richard Swift that authentically references doo wop, 60's bubble gum pop and Prince with a little bit of Beatles White Album thrown in for good measure.

MP3: ~~Fleet Foxes - Innocent Son~~
MP3: Richard Swift - Would You
MP3: Richard Swift - Lady Luck

Download: Richard Swift - Ground Trouble Jaw

Fleet Foxes on Myspace
Richard Swift on Myspace

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Previously on SOTR: Crayon Angels

Bruce Springsteen 'Working On A Dream' Artwork Revealed

2008-12-10T10:52:00.000Z

'Working On A Dream' will be released at the end of January.

Bruce Springsteen on Myspace
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Previously on SOTR: The Boss Is Back...

Horse Feathers

2008-12-09T16:39:00.000Z

This past weekend I have been listening to and loving the latest Horse Feathers album 'House With No Home'. The bands blurb reads as follows:

"Justin Ringle moved to Portland, Oregon in 2004, and began to play open mics regularly under the moniker Horse Feathers. In 2005 Peter Broderick heard two songs that Justin had recorded in a friend's basement, and proceeded to track Justin down via the internet. Shortly after that, the two started playing music together. For the most part, Justin writes the songs initially, and then Peter helps to arrange them with varying instrumentation. The resulting sound is music..."

‘House With No Home’ is Horse Feathers second album (The first being 2006's 'Words Are Dead'), but their first since singing to the Kill Rock Stars label.

MP3: ~~Horse Feathers - Blood On The Snow~~
MP3: ~~Horse Feathers - Father~~
MP3: Horse Feathers - Curs In The Weeds (courtesy of Kill Rock Stars)

Horse Feathers Daytrotter Session

Horse Feathers on Myspace
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Phosphorescent

2008-12-09T10:43:00.000Z

Last week I got a copy of the new Phosphorescent album 'To Willie' and I am pleased to report that it is fantastic! Matthew Houck's voice sounds stronger and more self assured than i have ever heard it and the playing on the record is really tight.

'To Willie' is a covers album featuring eleven Willie Nelson songs, I nice concept, especially when referencing Nelson's own Lefty Frizell covers record from 1975, 'To Lefty From Willie'. Steering clear of "the hits", the album brings to light (for me at least) a number of gems from Nelson's hefty back catalog. I am in no doubt that this release will win Phosphorescent a great number of new fans and critical acclaim.

Below are a couple of previous covers from Phosphorescent. The first a version of Kris kristofferson's "Sunday Morning Coming Down" and the second is a cover of the Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds b-side "Right Now I'm-A Roaming" (a great video clip of Matthew Houck performing this song can be found at They Shoot Music - Don't They).

MP3: ~~Phosphorescent - Sunday Morning Coming Down~~
MP3: ~~Phosphorescent - Right Now I'm-A Roaming~~

Video: Phosphorescent - A Picture Of Our Torn Up Praise (courtesy of Dead Oceans)
Video: Phosphorescent - At Death A Proclomation (courtesy of Dead Oceans)

Phosphorescent on Myspace
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Previously on SOTR: Phosphorescent: My New Favorite Band

Damien Jurado

2008-12-08T14:29:00.000Z

Ahead of the almost surefire crowning as winner of my album of 2008 title, a few Damien Jurado bits and pieces that I have been meaning to post for a while.

Firstly the brilliant video for "Caskets". Directed by Matt Daniels, the video features Damien's younger brother Drake in the lead role and is really a great looking piece. You can see it here or below.

Damien Jurado, "Caskets" from Thinklab on Vimeo.

Daytrotter have just posted a Damien Jurado session, which features, amongst other things, a fine reworking of 'Rehearsals For Departure' favorite "Ohio".

Damien has also recently popped up on the new Rosie Thomas Christmas record 'A Very Rosie Christmas'. He can be heard narrating part of the track "Shiela's Christmas Miracle".

Below is Damien's cover of the Dolorean song "Traded For Fire" originally released as a limited split 7" with Dolorean covering "Ghost Of David" on the flip side

MP3: ~~Damien Jurado - Traded For Fire~~

Damien Jurado's Caught In The Trees Blog
Damien Jurado on Myspace
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Previously on SOTR: Damien Jurado: Last Rights

Sibylle Baier - Let Us Know

2008-12-03T10:59:00.000Z

While neglecting to post on here for a while, a whole load of great things crossed my radar...one such thing being the appearance of a new song from Sibylle Baier. "Let Us Know" was written for the new Wim Wenders film "Palermo Shooting".

Wim Wenders is a friend of the Baier family and is a big fan of Sibylle's music, in fact she and her daughter Julia made a brief appearance in the 1974 Wenders movie 'Alice in The Cities', along with some of her songs.

Both the Palermo Shooting score (by Can man Irmin Schmidt) and original soundtrack are available to buy/download now. Apart from "Let Us Know" the soundtrack also features two new songs from Nick Cave's Grinderman ("Dream (Song for Finn)" and "Song for Frank") and one from Bonnie "Prince" Billy ("Torn and Brayed"), as well as tunes from Iron & Wine, The Velvet Underground and Beirut amongst others. The movie also features a cameo from Lou Reed.

MP3: ~~Sibylle Baier - Let Us Know~~

Stream: Palermo Shooting (Original Soundtrack) (courtesy of QOOB)

Sibylle Baier on Myspace
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Previously On SOTR: Sibylle Baier

Allen Ginsberg

2008-12-02T10:27:00.000Z

"I saw the best minds of my generation destroyed by madness..."
--Allen Ginsberg 'Howl & Other Poems (1956)

Had he still been alive, Allen Ginsberg would have been 82 years old on 3rd Of June this year, he was one of the greatest poets of the beat generation and a leading light in the....ah, you know who he is.

The first song below features Ginsberg and his pal Bob Dylan. Here is the story in Allen Ginsberg's own words:

Vomit Express: "These 1971 sessions came about because Dylan had come to hear a poetry reading at NYU's Loeb Auditorium, standing in the back of the crowded hall with David Amram. We were on stage with a gang of musician friends, and Peter improvised, singing, “You shouldn't write poetry down but carol it in the air, because to use paper you have to cut down trees.” I picked up on that, and we spent a half an hour making up tuneful words on the spot. I didn't know 12-bar blues, it was just a free-form rhyming extravaganza. We packed up, said goodbye to the musicians, thanked them and gave them a little money, went home, and then the phone rang. It was Dylan asking, “Do you always improvise like that?” And I said, “Not always, but I can. I used to do that with Kerouac under the Brooklyn Bridge all the time.”

He came to our apartment with Amram and a guitar, we began inventing something about “Vomit Express,” jamming for quite awhile, but didn't finish it. He said, “Oh, we ought to get together in a studio and do it,” then showed me the three-chord blues pattern on my pump organ. A week later in the studio Dylan actually did the arrangement, told people when to do choruses and when to take breaks, and suggested the musicians cut a few endings on their own to be spliced in.

“Vomit Express” was a phrase I got from my friend Lucien Carr, who talked about going to Puerto Rico, went often, and we were planning to take an overnight plane a couple of weeks later, my first trip there. He spoke of it as the “vomit express” – poor people flying at night for cheap fares, not used to airplanes, throwing up airsick".

The second is a song called 'See you Later, Allen Ginsberg' recorded by Dylan and The Band and can be found on the much bootlegged, but quite indispensable Basement Tapes.

MP3: ~~Allen Ginsberg with Bob Dylan - Vomit Express~~
MP3: ~~Bob Dylan & The Band - See you Later, Allen Ginsberg~~

Allen Ginsberg on Myspace
The Basement Tapes on Myspace
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The Boss Is Back...

2008-12-01T11:35:00.000Z

...but I guess he never really went away... Hot on the heels of 'Magic' and the subsequent world tour, January 2009 will see a new Bruce Springsteen album. "Working on a Dream" was recorded with the E Street Band and was produced by Brendan O'Brien.

The album lead up activity is in full swing with last weeks limited time free download 'Working On A Dream', the Halloween appearance of new track 'A Night With The Jersey Devil', new track 'The Wrestler' appearing in the trailer for the film of the same name and now a new video for 'My Lucky Day' appearing on Myspace.

And if that wasn't enough Bruce's transcendent version of the Suicide song 'Dream Baby Dream' has just been released. The limited vinyl edition is now sold out but the track can be downloaded from emusic, iTunes and by a whole bunch of other usual suspects. The released version is seven minutes of perfection; for a limited time see below for a just as perfect eleven and a half minute version of the song recorded in November 2005 on the Devils and Dust tour.

MP3: ~~Bruce Springsteen - Dream Baby Dream~~ (22nd November 2005)

Bruce Springsteen on Myspace
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