Sundowner – We Chase The Waves
I’m a Chris McCaughan fan, it’s true. I liked Tricky Dick, I liked The Broadways, I like The Lawrence Arms, and I liked the first Sundowner album. It’s because of this that even though I like the new Sundowner album We Chase The Waves, I feel a little disappointed by it. It’s not entirely unexpected (Read more…)
Carl Hauck – Windjammer
So Chicagoan Carl Hauck’s Windjammer might just be (along with Laura Veirs’ July Flame) my favorite folk-ish release of the year. Delicate and layered folk music with gorgeous melodies, great guitar playing, and interesting accompaniments that include a Kenny G style saxophone part. Adding the sax is a bold move, but it’s there. Can you (Read more…)
Jack Rose – Luck In The Valley
For those who aren’t familiar with him or his work, American folk guitarist Jack Rose died a year ago last week on December 5, 2009. He was only 38 years old but had already compiled an extensive discography of amazing material including Red Horse, White Mule (2002), Kensington Blues (2005), and the posthumous Luck In (Read more…)
Good Old War – Good Old War
So, yeah, Good Old War’s sophomore album (which is unironically titled Good Old War) is out now and something you might be into if you’re a fan of great vocal harmonies, playful melodies, and unobtrusive (but engaging) indie folk instrumentation. What that really means is that almost everyone I’ve played either Good Old War or (Read more…)
Laura Veirs – July Flame
Laura Veirs has long been one of my favorite female singer/songwriters and her latest album, July Flame, may be her best yet. It’s fragile, beautiful, daring, soothing, playful, and so damn good. It’s a little more straightforward than some of her previous material, but might be even more affecting because of it. Totally worth checking (Read more…)
Phosphorescent – Here’s To Taking It Easy
On this, Phosphorescent’s fifth full-length, Here’s To Taking It Easy, that’s exactly what it sounds like. It’s part weird folk music and part lazy West Coast country music; it’s 100 percent amazing and perfect for relaxing around the house pretending that there’s a warm salty breeze blowing in rather than the negative 6 degree wind (Read more…)
Hanalei – One Big Night
On this third full-length, Hanalei is (now again) the acoustic solo project of Brian Moss (The Wunder Years, The Ghost, Olehole) where he sometimes plays along with a laptop but sometimes alone. I actually met Brian (once) when my old band Allister played with the Wunder Years at some shithole in Colorado Springs in 1999. (Read more…)
Sounds You Should Hear: American War – Rhetoric
Who: American War Sounds: Rhetoric Where: Kent, Ohio How: Self-Released What: Amazing Ohio folk-punk from Matt who also plays in The Sidekicks who are fucking amazing too. Download the entire Rhetoric album for free here. RIYL: Defiance,Ohio, The Sidekicks, etc… MP3: We provide fast success in testking 117-101 exams by using our high quality pmp (Read more…)
