Can You See the Sunset? » folk

Sundowner – We Chase The Waves

Eric — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 03:03:01 +0000

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 though since I didn’t initially like the first Sundowner album as much as I do now. The songs are good (if unremarkable) and Chris’ performance is pretty strong, but something just seems to be missing and I’m not sure what it is. Yeah, it just sorta sounds like Four One Five Two part two with the same forlorn longing and loneliness permeating the album, but that isn’t a bad thing. Chris’ ragged and imperfect vocals fit better alongside Brendan’s in The Lawrence Arms instead of here with mainly just an acoustic guitar for accompaniment, but the yearning in his voice is more apparent here on We Chase The Waves. Good but not great (yet!), but (really) what Cub fan doesn’t love “Tinker To Evers To Chance?” I’ll guarantee that I like this one more as time goes by… and I think that time might be now. Yes, this is a good one. Out now on Asian Man Records.

MP3:
Sundowner - As The Crow Flies
Sundowner - Baseball's Sad Lexicon

Sounds You Should Hear: Digger Barnes

Eric — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 01:44:48 +0000

Who: Digger Barnes
Sounds: Time Has Come
Where: Hamburg, Germany
How: Hometown Caravan
What: Digger Barnes is a German singer/songwriter that is probably best known to American fans as the bass-player for The Revival Tour (you know, with Chuck Ragan, Tim Barry, Ben Nichols, Austin Lucas, Tom Gabel, etc…). This album, however, is filled with the sort of Gothic Americana that makes me shiver and shake in my boots. It’s a bit scary, but equally excellent.
RIYL: Austin Lucas, Tom Waits, etc…
MP3: Digger Barnes - Everybody Run

Carl Hauck – Windjammer

Eric — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 01:05:18 +0000

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 handle it?

MP3:
Carl Hauck - Windjammer

Jack Rose – Luck In The Valley

Eric — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 02:57:03 +0000

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 The Valley which was released earlier this year. It is a simply amazing album. Now there are plenty of originals on Luck In The Valley but a number of songs are covers, and Rose honors the songs yet still makes them his own. His playing was a somewhat raw and primitive rendering of acoustic folk music traditions; combing ragtime, bluegrass, and traditional country blues in an almost avant-garde way but still paying homage to the traditions of pre-war American music. And although his music was instrumental, he had a voice unlike anyone else. Like on some of his previous albums, Luck In The Valley was recorded live and contains no overdubs. It serves to make each and every song come vibrantly alive in a way that’s primal and almost visceral to the senses. Luck In The Valley is a phenomenal album so if you’ve never heard of Jack Rose, this is as great a place to start as exists. Get it today from Thrill Jockey.

MP3:
Jack Rose - Woodpiles On The Side Of The Road

Good Old War – Good Old War

Eric — Sun, 12 Dec 2010 21:14:27 +0000

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 the band’s first album for has really enjoyed them. There’s just something timelessly and universally appealing about what they do (and not entirely dissimilar to Simon & Garfunkel). The band also kills it live so check ‘em out if you ever have the chance.

MP3:
Good Old War - My Own Sinking Ship

Laura Veirs – July Flame

Eric — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 01:59:52 +0000

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 out if you like smart acoustic music and/or spending time in the woods on a sunny day.

MP3:
Laura Veirs - July Flame

Phosphorescent – Here’s To Taking It Easy

Eric — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 02:58:32 +0000

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 chill we’ve got now. Out now on Dead Oceans and highly recommended.

MP3:
Phosphorescent - The Mermaid Parade

Hanalei – One Big Night

Eric — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 03:59:48 +0000

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. I never guessed that he would make a record like this. At times gentle, restrained, and beautiful, and other times raw and demo-like, but always oddly and wonderfully affecting. You might not like this album (though that would be kinda strange since it’s really great) but I love it. One Big Night is essentially simple singer/songwriter stuff that (like stuff from all the good ones) is much more than that. One of my favorites of 2010 for sure. RIYL: Matt Skiba, Denison Witmer, etc…

MP3:
Hanalei - Keep Digging
Hanalei - Moth To The Flame

Sounds You Should Hear: American War – Rhetoric

Eric — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 02:53:38 +0000

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: American War - Rhetoric

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