dirty projectors – rise above

Dave Longstreth could have gone off the rails when re-imagining Black Flag favorites as lo-fi indie-soul oddities. But RISE ABOVE righteously subverts the hardcore legends’ original machismo, actually illuminating their songs’ intelligence and interpretative potential, while equally illustrating Longstreth’s beautifully bent creativity. “Six Pack,” in particular, is quite the trip, having morphed from alcohol-crazed testosterone into loose-limbed Talking Heads dysfunction (with female vocal harmonies to boot). As is the case with any covers/tribute album, the greatest superlative it can garner is that it feels essentially independent of its source material. By that criterion, RISE ABOVE has ascended to rarified skies.

http://www.mediafire.com/?0bbbvzyzdcz

dreamstate mix tape vol 1 & 2

november mixtape is something to put you into a dreamstate in these fucking cold days .

volume 1

1. Melodies & Desires – Lykke Li
2. The Waves at Night – Phosphorescent
3. Hellhole Ratrace – Girls
4. Heavy Water; I’d Rather Be Sleeping – Grouper
5. I Sing I Swim – Seabear
6. Mbira in the Morass – Volcano Choir
7. Song for Jo – Scarlett Johansson
8. Dmi We Meet Again – Jon Brion
9. Windmill Wedding – Air France
10. Ah! Melody – Serge Gainsbourg
11. Swimming Field – Memory Tapes
12. What a Lullaby, What a Way to Die – Right Away, Great Captain!
13. Intermezzo – jj
14. Festival – Sigur Ros
15. Hideaway – Karen O & the Kids

http://www.mediafire.com/?ozdcqzzrzqh

 

volume 2

1. Body in the Water – Memory Cassette
2. The Lucky One – Au Revoir Simone
3. Moving Pictures Silent Films – Great Lake Swimmers
4. Dream – Priscila Ahn
5. Flume – Bon Iver
6. Heart of Chambers – Beach House
7. Just Like Honey – Jesus and the Mary Chain
8. Lua – Bright Eyes
9. Waves, Waves, Waves – M83
10. Happiness – Riceboy Sleeps
11. VCR – The xx
12. Blonde on Blonde – Nada Surf
13. Ghost Train – Summer Camp
14. Elle – Sebastien Tellier
15. Good, Good People – Whitney Ballen
16. Punkrock – Mogwai

http://www.mediafire.com/?gkmdnk5mmnm

death cab for cutie – narrow stairs

i have been listening to this album today and like many other albums i have i forget how good this album really is . you should give this a play if you dont already own it .

Throughout their career, and especially since they were forever enshrined as the favorite band of sardonic emo kid Seth Cohen on television’s THE OC, Death Cab For Cutie have always been known as indie rock’s most famous sensitive guys. Even at their most abrasive on previous albums like PLANS and WE HAVE THE FACTS AND WE’RE VOTING YES, Ben Gibbard and crew have always had an inherent gentleness along with the low-key pop sensibility that allowed them to make the jump from the indie fringe to major-label stardom. The ambitious, experimental NARROW STAIRS is Death Cab For Cutie’s unexpectedly edgy response to any preconceptions, a wide-ranging, noisy and exciting album that sounds little like anything they’ve done before. From the epic-length first single. “I Will Possess Your Heart.” through the spacy, almost psychedelic “Pity and Fear” and the noise-riddled “Your New Twin Sized Bed,” NARROW STAIRS is Death Cab For Cutie’s equivalent to Radiohead’s KID A, a bracingly ambitious attempt to counter expectations as their stardom ascends.
After spending the better part of a decade in the musical minor leagues, Death Cab for Cutie went pro with 2005’s Plans, a record whose optimism and Technicolor sound gave the band enough leverage to finally enter the mainstream. “Soul Meets Body” became their biggest rock single to date, but it was Ben Gibbard’s delicate love song, “I Will Follow You Into the Dark,” that earned the quartet a Grammy nomination and legions of new fans. Some bands might have taken a cue from such success and resigned themselves to a career of acoustic ballads, not unlike the Goo Goo Dolls’ transformation in the mid-’90s. But Narrow Stairs roughs up Plans’ bright palette with something starker, more harrowing, and altogether darkened by Gibbard’s blues. No longer crooning about immortal love or his desire to embrace all of Manhattan, the frontman lives inside his own troubled head on these 11 tracks — or at least the heads of the characters he conjures up with ease, like some music-minded novelist with a knack for pop melodies and witty observations. There’s “Cath,” an ill-married girl who “holds a smile like someone would hold a crying child,” as well as the creepy stalker in “I Will Possess Your Heart,” who simply demands that his intended lover give him the time of day. Elsewhere, Gibbard examines a friend’s recent heartbreak by referencing her bedroom furniture (“Your New Twin Sized Bed”), offering up his concern — if not quite his help — while the band conjures up a lazy summer’s day with gauzy keyboards and brightly chiming riffs. Such contrast between music and text plays an occasional role on Narrow Stairs, with songs like “No Sunlight” and “Long Division” pairing somber lyrics with upbeat orchestration. But the album largely paints itself as the darker, mysterious cousin to Plans — raw rather than polished, heartbroken rather than optimistic, enigmatic rather than energetic. Gibbard strings his words together with an army of free-flowing “ands” and “buts”, and the resulting lyrics — long, uncoiling sentences with no clear end — mirror his characters’ desperate attitudes. Narrow Stairs is far from desperate, however, and the album’s willingness to steer Death Cab into unfamiliar territory (or, to reference an earlier lyric, “into the dark”), is by far its strongest asset. ~ Andrew LeaheyRolling Stone (p.66) – 4 stars out of 5 — “[T]he album is as dark as anything the band has done….[T]he most indelible moment is ‘Grapevine Fires,’ a minor-key processional framed by churchy organ and electric piano.

http://www.mediafire.com/?hwmwwucikti

 

live next month

deer tick will be playing live at the musician pub in leicester uk on december 2nd £7 advance .

todd snider – train song

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKrwPaP7Bvs

United Steel Workers of Montreal – Three On the Tree (2009)

“Urban hillbillies, the United Steel Workers of Montreal are a bar band. Their latest release, Three on the Tree, would best be heard with a flask of whiskey and a group of sweaty strangers in some seedy watering hole. Three Hard Knocks sets the wild tone of the album. It’s fast finger-pluckin’ guitar, banjo and mandolin and Gern’s gruff vocals. For Love and Your Mother’s Sake is on the same train, though Felicity Hamer takes over on vocals. Shawn Beauchamp takes it down a notch on Son, Your Daddy Was Bad. United Steel Workers of Montreal divide their vocals throughout the album, which befits the plethora of musical styles the band explores. Imagine bluegrass, Irish and country with a mixture of folk elements. The Line should be a favourite among duet lovers. But it’s The Ballad of Mary Gallagher that highlights the band’s exceptional craftsmanship and creative integrity.”

http://rapidshare.com/files/299002590/USWOM_Vic.zip

 

ashamed of the story i told (mixtape)

ok i should of really posted this in october but things went mad my side . ashamed of the story i told is a lovely little mixtape with a bitter twist . there are some classic tunes on there that i think most of you guys will have or should have if your a serious music lover . songs like hand in glove by the smiths and wilco via chicago . anyway download it and let me know what you think . are these mixtapes worth while doing ? readers are downloading them but are you liking them ? .
01. johnny cash – the mercy seat
02. the decemberists – leslie anne levine
03. deer tick – friday xiii
04. okkervil river – black
05. the national – ashamed of the story i told
06. belle & sebastian – expectations
07. the magnetic fields – i wish i had an evil twin
08. the mountain goats – ethiopians
09. the avett brothers – colorshow
10. pedro the lion – discretion
11. bonnie ‘prince’ billy – i’ve seen it all
12. the smiths – hand in glove
13. the handsome family – after we shot the grizzly
14. wilco – via chicago
http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?yi5gikkjzny

red jacket mine & friends

come and get your love was kindly donated by lincoln barr of the highly recommended RED JACKET MINE and his fellow friends . this compilation is awesome with bands appearing kindly like down pilot who’s last two albums just blew me away . and the clever visqueen who certainly can blast out a quality song . i cant really say enough about this other than try it you will love it .

FRIENDS OF RED JACKET MINE

1. Hand Me Down – Visqueen

Led by the fabulous Ms. Rachel Flotard (whose lovely pipes you might’ve heard backing Ms. Neko Case), Seattle rockers Visqueen have released one of 2009’s finest records in Message to Garcia. This track opens the album, and Ms. Case returns the favor on backing vocals. Thunderous, thrilling pop music.
http://www.visqueenonline.com

2. Racing Stripe Winter – Red Heart the Ticker

When I first heard this song on KEXP in the fall of 2006, I thought to myself, “I need to know these people.” Three years later, it’s still one of my favorites. Ty Gibbons and Robin MacArthur  are some of the nicest folks you’ll ever meet, and absolutely enchanting in a live setting. They’ve since released another fine album, 2009’s Oh My! Mountains Below.
http://rhtt.net

3. Turnaround This Car – The Devil Whale

The mayors of Salt Lake City, Utah, and some of our best friends in music. Brinton Jones has the kind of voice that you can’t help feeling is singing directly to you, and I can’t think of a higher compliment. We love these guys, and you should, too.
http://www.myspace.com/devilwhale

4. Too Early – Cobirds Unite

Rusty Willougby (née Llama, Flop, Pure Joy) is one of my favorite songwriters in a city full of great ones, and his talents commingle with those of the aforementioned Ms. Flotard (Visqueen) and Mr. Barrett Martin (of Screaming Trees/Tuatara renown) to form Cobirds Unite. Rumor has it that an entire album’s worth of these supple, lovely recordings exists…in the meantime, check out rustywilloughby.com to indulge.
http://www.rustywilloughby.com

5. Chelsea Turnaround – Downpilot

Paul Hiraga and the rest of Downpilot have been dear friends for ages, and we recently shared a record release party (for our new one, Lovers Lookout, and theirs, They Kind of Shine). Out now on Germany’s Tapete Records.
http://www.downpilot.com

6. Let You Down – Burning Rivers

My friends Ben London and Joshua Medaris lead Burning Rivers, a band in which I’m honored to fill the ‘Steve Gaines’ (read: third guitar) role as time permits. They’ve been in other, better-known, bands, of course, but all you really need to know is that Burning Rivers is American rock and roll of the highest order. This track is from their forthcoming debut LP, The Hardest Part of Letting Go.
http://www.myspace.com/burningrivers

7. This World (Already Over) – Nathan Wade & the Dark Pioneers

Nathan Wade is a man of extraordinary cojones, bucking against indie-rock fashion to pursue a singular vision he bleakly describes as ‘post-apocalypse Americana.’ This track, while brilliant, is hardly indicative of the freewheeling breadth of the Dark Pioneers’ forthcoming debut full-length, The Gospel of Rust. It does, however, feature Patrick Porter (of RJM) on pedal steel, and yours truly on Morricone lead guitar. You’ll have to discover the rest for yourself.
http://www.nathanwademusic.com

8. Milo – Amateur Radio Operator

Some of RJM’s earliest Seattle shows were shared with Mark Johnson and his band, Amateur Radio Operator. This song (from their debut album, Sirens of Titan) has always been one of my favorites of theirs. Epic, atmospheric Americana.
http://www.myspace.com/amateurradio

9. Silver Spoon – Ben Brackett

Wunderkind Ben Brackett released an absolutely stellar debut record in 2007’s Hear Ye Hear Ye, and I hear he’s working on a new one, sure to humble songwriters twice his age (again). Rest assured I’ll be listening.
http://www.myspace.com/benjaminbrackett

10. Out of Town – Explone

Full disclosure: Explone is led by my good friend Patrick Porter, who also plays guitar and pedal steel in RJM. Fans of the brilliant melodicism present in his RJM contributions will find much to love here. This lovely road song is featured on his debut album, Crooks.
http://www.explone.com

11. Thirty Reasons – Octoberman

Octoberman is a cross-Canadian indie/folk troupe led by my longtime pal Marc Morrisette: road warrior, gentleman, and scholar. This lovely ditty is from their most recent album, Fortresses, out now on White Whale Records.
http://octoberman.ca

12 . showponies – red jacket mine

lincoln and the boys of red jacket mine sure know how to write a song showponies is an awesome piece of writing . lovers look out while be looked at in years to come as a classic

http://www.myspace.com/redjacketmine

http://rapidshare.com/files/301555857/red_jacket_mine___friends.rar.html

 

video of the day , and i was there to witness this (awsome)

the wooden sky – if i dont come home you know am gone 2009

i seriously recommend this album to you guys . since changing there name from friday mornings regret to there new monic of the wooden sky they have been taken the folk scene by storm . hailing from toronto canada and fronted by . gavin gardener the wooden sky are heading for big times and giving this genre of music a much needed kick up the ass it was yelling out for .

http://rapidshare.com/files/266911010/the_wooden_sky_-_if_i_don_t_come_home_you_ll_know_i_m_gone.rar

news

ok guys lincoln barr from red jacket mine and some of his friends has complied an amazing mixtape all taken from there own albums . and it is just full of top quality tracks from the likes of downpilot , red heart the ticker , visqueen and many more so keep your eyes open for this posting while we sort out a nice little album art work .

mixtape

i had a request to make this mixtape up with no clues on what that person liked or hints to specific bands or genres so i pretty much blagged it  . but it did turn out ok if i do say so myself . so if your wanting a mixtape done let me know and give me a theme to do or a reason you want it done . makes life a little easier . anyway i hope you enjoy this

http://www.sendspace.com/file/vhuk44

17 tracks so had to upload to sendspace , if your wanting a mixtape done contact me on colin.mcgreevy@yahoo.co.uk

ryan adams – gold 2001 (weekend classic album)

The “it” boy of early-’00s roots-rock, former Whiskeytown leader Ryan Adams has responded to the mountain of hype surrounding him with an arrogance worthy of his idol, mid-’60s Bob Dylan. Accordingly he follows his stripped-down solo debut with a two-disc, fully produced set that finds him grasping for the mantle of alt-country messiah. GOLD picks up where Whiskeytown’s swan song FAITHLESS STREET left off; a step removed from the country-rock hard line but still full of rootsy, organic, Band-like warmth.

The up-tempo opening tune “New York, New York” recalls vintage Steve Forbert, while “Answering Bell” sounds like David Gray fronting the aforementioned Band on a rewritten “The Weight.” The epic, acoustic guitar-based ballad “Nobody’s Girl” is one of the more overtly Dylanesque pieces here, and while trying to overshadow Zimmy is a fool’s errand no matter how big your britches, one has to admire Adams for the considerable chutzpah necessary to even take up the task. Whether you believe he’s the Gram Parsons of the 21st century or not, its that undeniable spirit and ambition that lay at the heart of GOLD’s appeal.

The “it” boy of early-’00s roots-rock, former Whiskeytown leader Ryan Adams has responded to the mountain of hype surrounding him with an arrogance worthy of his idol, mid-’60s Bob Dylan. Accordingly he follows his stripped-down solo debut with a two-disc, fully produced set that finds him grasping for the mantle of alt-c

Recorded at the Sunset Sound Factory, Hollywood, California.

disc 1 – http://www.mediafire.com/?kjzvhz0yzey

disc 2 bonus disc limited edition – http://www.mediafire.com/?9wjyxnd2xdj

drummer – feel good together 2009

Patrick Carney, drummer for the Black Keys, perceived in his mind’s eye one snowy February afternoon in 2009. “Dan (Auerbach, vocalist/guitarist for the Black Keys) was leaving on tour to support his solo record, and I wasn’t going to have anything to do for a while,” says Patrick of his impetus to start this new band. He immediately established a psychic link with old friend Jamie Stillman, better known as the drummer in both Columbus, Ohio’s hirsute lumberjacks Teeth of the Hydra and Kent, Ohio’s popular art-school dweebs Harriet the Spy.

Jamie liked the idea of a band dedicated to good feelings, and thought their mutual pal Jon Finley, former drummer for Kent, Ohio’s legendary show-offs Party of Helicopters (for which Jamie played guitar) and current singer/multi-instrumentalist for Kent, Ohio’s lovable ne’er-do-wells Beaten Awake, might be interested as well. Via three-way telepathic hook-up, Jamie and Jon discussed the plan with Stephen Clements, drummer for Akron, Ohio’s blustery train-wreck Houseguest, knowing, as they did, that few men were more skilled in the subtle science of feeling good.

Now Patrick had four of his intended five. Four drummers, not drumming. Patrick would play bass, Jamie guitar, Jon would sing and play guitar, and Steve, keyboards. But, now, who would drum the drums? What of a band of four drummers, without a fifth to drum those drums? The answer appeared in a radiant fever vision, alighting gently upon all four brains simultaneously: the perfect fifth for this proposed super-group was Greg Boyd, late of Cincinnati, Ohio surf-rock band Ghostman & Sandman. Greg could and would hit those drums (and rhythmically, no less) without hesitation.

Retreating to Patrick’s North Akron bunker, the band began writing furiously in the hopes of releasing a record before the next winter set in. Engineering the recording sessions was Ben Vehorn, whose credits include Love as Laughter, Licorice Roots, Houseguest, and Other Girls. What emerged were eleven songs of classic, feel-good rock, suitable for listening to while doing donuts with an ’86 IROC in the Dairy Queen parking lot, or polishing off a six-pack on the local Par 3.

The five members of Drummer are your kind of people, and their debut album, Feel Good Together, is your kind of music. It encapsulates the soul of Northeastern Ohio, where, whether in reference to local sports, the local economy, or just trying to find one’s place in the world, the phrases “almost, but not quite” and “better luck next time” are applicable in perpetuity. But who cares? Not Drummer. If nothing else pans out, hopefully we can, at least, say we had a good time. Whatever you need to do, it can probably wait ‘til tomorrow. For now, put the record on, sit down, and let’s just feel good. Together.

Drummer’s debut album, Feel Good Together, will be available September 29th from Audio Eagle Records.  

http://rapidshare.com/files/290446120/Trommler.zip

check out the track called mature fantasy its just awesome

deep dark woods mixtape – top ten songs for a sunday morning

deep dark woods has kindly given the northline a top 10 song for a sunday morning . some of these songs were hard to find but we managed to find them all . deep dark woods are embarking on a canadian tour this winter so go cathem if they are out your way .

1. The Stanley Brothers- Rank Strangers
An Old hymn written by one of the greatest hymn writers of all time Albert Brumley. Ralph and Carter Stanley harmonize like brothers should, it makes you ache, especially if you haven’t been to church in a while.

2. Bill Monroe and His Bluegrass Boys- Little Community Church
Another beauty in the harmony department. It aches and pains me to listen to this one. One of Bill Monroe’s finest moments.

3. Bob Dylan- When He Returns
A real gem that people seem to forget about, just Bob Dylan and his piano from the wonderful gospel record “Slow Train Coming”. You can really hear that Dylan is on fire on this recording.

4. Five Blind Boys Of Alabama- I Can See Everybody’s Mother
I real beauty from 1964, this great band has been performing together since 1948 forming at Talladega Blind School in Alabama. This is one of those rare tracks that can bring a man to his knees and thank the good Lord for this wonderful music.

5. Al Green- Jesus Is Waiting
From Al Green’s Call Me album, one of his best. This track is by far the best tune on the album, beautiful strings and soulful singing by Mr. Green.

6. Elvis Presley- Milky White Way
Off of Elvis’ best gospel record “His Hand In Mine”. Really nice backing vocals by the Jordanaires. Showing that Elvis still had some great performances left in the old tank back in 1960. A lot of people say that Elvis started to suck after he left Sun Records. Well let me tell you, Elvis’ album from 1956-1960 are all fantastic.

7. Flatt and Scruggs- Take Me In A Lifeboat
A great early track by one of greatest bluegrass bands of all time. It’s a nice fast one that can make you a really happy person on a lonesome Sunday morning.

8. Johnny Cash- Lead Me Gently Home
From 1958, a real beauty from one of the greatest gospel country singers of all time. It comes from the album “Hymns”. It’s a very short album, but very good.

9. Sam Cooke and the Soul Stirrers- Steal Away
Before Sam Cooke went pop he led a wonderful gospel group the Soul Stirrers. They have a lot of great tunes, but “Steal Away” is one of the best.

10. The Staple Singers- Let Me Ride
Old Pops really shows his guitar skills on this one. Parliament/Funkadelic later did a nice cover of this tune, but there ain’t nothing better than the Staples version of this old black gospel hymn.

1. The Stanley Brothers- Rank Strangers
An Old hymn written by one of the greatest hymn writers of all time Albert Brumley. Ralph and Carter Stanley harmonize like brothers should, it makes you ache, especially if you haven’t been to church in a while.

2. Bill Monroe and His Bluegrass Boys- Little Community Church
Another beauty in the harmony department. It aches and pains me to listen to this one. One of Bill Monroe’s finest moments.

3. Bob Dylan- When He Returns
A real gem that people seem to forget about, just Bob Dylan and his piano from the wonderful gospel record “Slow Train Coming”. You can really hear that Dylan is on fire on this recording.

4. Five Blind Boys Of Alabama- I Can See Everybody’s Mother
I real beauty from 1964, this great band has been performing together since 1948 forming at Talladega Blind School in Alabama. This is one of those rare tracks that can bring a man to his knees and thank the good Lord for this wonderful music.

5. Al Green- Jesus Is Waiting
From Al Green’s Call Me album, one of his best. This track is by far the best tune on the album, beautiful strings and soulful singing by Mr. Green.

6. Elvis Presley- Milky White Way
Off of Elvis’ best gospel record “His Hand In Mine”. Really nice backing vocals by the Jordanaires. Showing that Elvis still had some great performances left in the old tank back in 1960. A lot of people say that Elvis started to suck after he left Sun Records. Well let me tell you, Elvis’ album from 1956-1960 are all fantastic.

7. Flatt and Scruggs- Take Me In A Lifeboat
A great early track by one of greatest bluegrass bands of all time. It’s a nice fast one that can make you a really happy person on a lonesome Sunday morning.

8. Johnny Cash- Lead Me Gently Home
From 1958, a real beauty from one of the greatest gospel country singers of all time. It comes from the album “Hymns”. It’s a very short album, but very good.

9. Sam Cooke and the Soul Stirrers- Steal Away
Before Sam Cooke went pop he led a wonderful gospel group the Soul Stirrers. They have a lot of great tunes, but “Steal Away” is one of the best.

10. The Staple Singers- Let Me Ride
Old Pops really shows his guitar skills on this one. Parliament/Funkadelic later did a nice cover of this tune, but there ain’t nothing better than the Staples version of this old black gospel hymn.

http://www.mediafire.com/?gduxgyne2tz

mixtape

Top 10 Songs to Listen to on a Monday:

1. Ronnie Lane and Slim Chance- G’morning
I love the work he has done with the Faces/Small Faces, but his solo
stuff is some of his greatest work. This song has a great melody. In a
perfect world, I would feel like this song in the morning. It’s a
really fun song to play, too.

2. Son Volt – Windfall
One of my favorite Son Volt songs. The first time I heard this, I was
at my friend Steve Hansens house. It was about 5:00 in the morning,
after playing a house party in his backyard in San Diego. You can
imagine how good it sounded at that point. Sleepy country, my
favorite.

3. Marty Stuart- Homesick
Nothing gets me going in the morning like some nice bluegrass vocals,
and this is about as good as you can get. It’s a live performance, and
Marty is about one of the finest showman there is.

4. Mike Stinson- When My Angel Gets High
Mike Stinson is one my favorite local songwriters. His vocals are
almost eerie at times, almost like a controlled Roky Erikson. I really
dig the stuff he does with a full band, but I think it’s nice to hear
a stripped down version of his songs, as well. I hear he moved to
Houston. I really hope he moves back.

5. Ramblin’ Jack Elliot (w/ Emmylou Harris and Nancy Griffith)- Rex’s Blues
You take one of Townes’ greatest songs, mix it with these characters,
and your bound to hear something amazing. Such a great combination of
voices. I met Ramblin’ Jack when he was walking around UCLA after a
show he played there. He was opening random doors and when the usher
asked him what he was doing he said “I’m looking for Merle.”…Got to
love it.

6. Roky Erickson- Please Judge
I can’t mention Roky Erickson without adding one of his songs (see
song 4). I love the simplicity of his songs, yet they always seem so
powerful. Also, I have to go to court on Tuesday, the day after the
Echo show, and I’m hoping the judge is lenient. We have had a lot of
issues with the law lately. We had one chasin’ Brad up the studio
stairs–with gun drawn–just the other day. Needless to say, he caught
him. The good thing is that I got to watch the whole thing go down.
Cops = 6, Paperplanes = 0.

7. Waylon Jennings- All Around Cowboy (Bonus Track off Dreaming my Dreams)
“He remembers the thrill about being a winner…” When you are in your
car doing karaoke, that is about the best line in a song to sing. I
love the way Waylon produced his records, there is such a loneliness
in his vocals and the production. Waylons vocals are about one of the
best thing an ear can hear.

8. Flatlanders- One Day at a Time
I just got this record, and this song struck me immediately. Joe Ely
sounds great on his parts and Jimmy Dale Gilmore exploits the
uniqueness of his voice to really push this song in a beautiful way.
When they hit the second line in the chorus, it creates that tone
that, makes you say, “oh, man, that’s nice…” This is a great song to
hear when you are wasted, as well.

9. Terry Allen- The Beautiful Waitress
Now I can’t talk about Lubbock songwriters without mentioning Terry Allen.
‘Lubbock (on Everything)’ and ‘Juarez’ are 2 records that really
changed the way I think about songwriting. Basically, after hearing
these records, I realized that I was a horrible songwriter. Its hard
to put just one of his songs on, so I put this song on and hope you
buy the album to hear the entire record. Although the corny-ness of
these lyrics might throw you off at first, if you think about it,
there’s nothing corny about it at all. Everything is a story for him,
and I think the spoken word bit is classic Terry Allen. He’s weird,
and his music is beautiful. Richard Bowden plays an amazing fiddle,
as well.

10. Whiskey Biscuit- TV Remote Control
Whiskey Biscuit is one of my favorite LA bands. I’ve been a long time
fan of Jeff Cairns’ guitar playing, and this is one of my favorite
songs. Lazy country-rock with weird noises, that is the best music.

http://www.mediafire.com/?rn2fdjhjghg

tim cohen – two sides of tim cohen 2009

As if fronting super hyped garage rockers the Fresh & Onlys wasn’t enough, or being the one man in one man weirdo black metal horde AmocomA, or playing in Black Fiction and Three Leafs or any of a number of other local bands, or even being the back up band for psych rock legend Rodriguez, well, apparently none of that is enough, as here’s a brand new full length from Mr. Tim Cohen, he of all the above mentioned rockness.

Seems Tim Cohen’s a busy man these days, with the Fresh & Onlys last LP barely dying down to a simmer and an upcoming release impending on Woodsist; hey why not throw in a solo album as well? The Two Sides of Tim Cohen strays far from the work Cohen’s been doing lately with Fresh & Onlys, mixing a strong slice of loner psych into the haunted mysticism that permeated his previous work in Black Fiction. There are bursts of pop that peek through the rain soaked windows of Cohen’s songwriting, occasionally letting a little light into his bittersweet temperament, but for the most part the album burns a slow path through the minor key. As a result it doesn’t clinch on the first listen, or even the second, instead Two Sides reveals itself to be a slow grower over repeated listens. Each new layer peeled back from Cohen’s exterior reveals another marbled tear, another queasy calmness that echoes not only Tim’s past, but your own as well. Piece by piece the album pounds, stitches and tapes back together the human psyche only to offer it up to the hounds that tore it apart in the first place.

http://rapidshare.com/files/285387000/timcohen.rar

langhorne slim – be set free 2009

Something of a one-man mixture of the Cramps, Beck’s early indie records (circa One Foot in the Grave), and the soundtrack to O Brother Where Art Thou, singer and guitarist Langhorne Slim offers a sardonic, modern take on traditional folk, country, and blues. Fancifully dubbed “the bastard son of Hasil Adkins” in some of his early press releases, Langhorne Slim is in fact a Pennsylvania native who resettled in Brooklyn after his graduation from the State University of New York at Purchase. After a self-released demo garnered some local and online attention (as well as a semi-regular gig as the opening act for indie novelty outfit the Trachtenberg Family Slideshow Players), Langhorne Slim signed with the indie label Narnack Records and released his first EP, Electric Love Letter, in March 2004. The more varied and band-oriented full-length When the Sun’s Gone Down followed in the spring of 2005. Much touring ensued over the next year, including support dates with Lucero and Murder by Death, with drummer Malachi DeLorenzo and upright bassist Paul DeFiglia (aka “the War Eagles”) in tow. In 2006, Langhorne Slim signed with the larger (though still not major) label V2 Records, which released the all-new EP Engine in September of that year, as the singer was finishing recording his second full album, produced by Josh Ritter’s keyboardist, Sam Kassirer. The deal fell through, however, and the band was left labelless. Langhorne Slim found a new home on Kemado Records, who released the self-titled album in the spring of 2008

http://rapidshare.com/files/285417599/langhorneslim.zip

 

Now is probably the first time in something like 35 years that a posse of hairy menfolk could get away virtually scot-free with big, twangy rock songs in which the only possible name for the object of one’s affections is a terse “woman”. Indeed, the very first line of the very first track on Broken Side of Time – the debut album from these New York-residing Londoners – runs thusly: “Woman, I pushed you more than I should”. It’s called Song Three Blues, and pretty much sets the tone for an album in which the worst aspects of 70s rock (near mind-boggling levels of musical and social conservatism) does constant battle with the most laudable (riffola-clad tunes so epic and yearning they make the average choir of angels sound like a washing machine breaking down).

So you’ve got to hand it to Alberta Cross: they’ve got good timing.

http://rapidshare.com/files/282248142/Alberta_Cross-Broken_Side_Of_Time-2009-404.rar

joe gideon and the shark – harum scarum 2009

 

 

 

 

joe gideon and the shark debut release in october 13th 2009 . i caught this brother sister outfit and the end of the road festival in dorset and the just blew me away the live set was waesome and loud . i do recommend this album you will enjoy it there is hints of the fall in there and lift to experiance trust me if there out your way go and seem them the power of there live show is superb

http://www.mediafire.com/?nnfjdmtkg4z

volcano choir – unmap 2009

came across this freak folk style sound by complete accident and was amazed how how alike to the sounds of Bon Iver and deyarmond eddison .

Volcano Choir is an assembly of Wisconsinites Jon Mueller, Chris Rosenau, Jim Schoenecker, Daniel Spack, Justin Vernon, and Thomas Wincek. You might find these old friends also frequenting records and stages under different monikers, Collections of Colonies of Bees and Bon Iver. The collaboration predates the meteoric rise of Justin Vernon’s Bon Iver project, with original songwriting dating back to the summer of 2005, right around the time the Bees first toured with Vernon’s previous band DeYarmond Edison.

While entirely a studio record, the collection doesn’t suffer from the overburdens of a digital pile up or over-thinking. Rather it breathes and convulses in equal measure, radiating an inherent dynamism found only in the voluntary bondage of intimacy. With influences ranging from David Sylvian and Steve Reich to Mahalia Jackson and Tom Waits, it might be more accurate to say the group’s influence is music itself. You can hear it in the care and real love generously applied to each moment of Unmap. With the vibe of some intimate backwoods gospel, plus a spirit of patience and thoughtful repetition, the music of Volcano Choir is as dynamic as it is lovely.

Unmap ultimately came together over a weekend in November 2008 in Fall Creek, Wisconsin, at Justin and Nate Vernon’s recording studio. And while it is at its heart a record about the allure of being with people you need and making something with them, it is also a document created by musicians with rare gifts getting together to exorcise their ideas about beauty. This scaffolding of loops and off grid tempos for choral style vocals offers a state of continual surprise, call it unexpectation.

Unmap marks the debut full-length from Volcano Choir, the collaboration between Collections of Colonies of Bees and Justin Vernon of Bon Iver.

http://rapidshare.com/files/276167051/Volcano_Choir_-_2009_-_Unmap.rar

10 songs hand picked by vetiver (mixtape series)

 

Andy Cabic of the San Francisco based group vetiver hand picked these 10 songs to compile a great mix tape . there is some rare country folk tunes on here so i recon you guys need to grab this .

http://www.mediafire.com/?mo2mqznyggm

song of the day

late summer mix tape vol 1

 

here is a nice little late summer mix tape to chill out with as the summer starts to pull out enjoy it

http://www.mediafire.com/?jzmyzthmzui

the moe greene specials – s/t

i got given this album by a friend out sad it was complete rubbish . but hey i never listen to others about music i make my own mind up . god its fucking awesome i love it and your a sucker for giving it away . if you like calexico or richmond fontaine then this could be your thing to . its like a crazy speghetti western soundtrack .

http://rapidshare.com/files/273318298/The_Moe_Greene_Specials_-_2005_-_The_Moe_Greene_Specials.rar

richmond fontaine – we used to think the freeway sounded like a river 2009

REVIEW

Richmond Fontaine have served up some of the best alt-country/Americana out there during the past decade and to much critical acclaim, especially on this side of the Atlantic, yet still remain some distance away from the kind of vaguely populist recognition attained by the likes of Ryan Adams, Lambchop, or a Wilco with retained twang. And that’s a damned cryin’ shame. Lynch pin of the Portland four-piece is singer/songwriter Willy Vlautin. His songs burst with the vivid imagery and hard hitting, totally compelling storytelling you would expect from a published novelist (with a probable Hollywood film adaptation in the pipeline for one of his books too). Like a crushed Springsteen at his very best, telling thumbnail sketches of keen observation bring characters to life; characters who often appear in both books and songs, and typically inhabit a tragic downbeat world where every wall has peeling paint, all shoes are scuffed, and clothes retain a whiff of stale beer – in short America(na) at its most (heart)broken.

There is a smattering of bristling straight ahead dry-throated rousing alt-country (as in first single “You Can Move Back Here”), but a better representation of the album is more measured and decidedly downbeat in its focus on the seedy side of life. Several of the real gems here are those where Vlautin adopts a practically spoken word approach. Words are to be savoured for their weary sound as well as their meaning, bringing to mind the kind of spellbinding monologues that Van Morrison can deliver transplanted to the far West. The title track has a singing saw (or saw-sounding pedal steel) eerily and memorably warbling the main hook of the chorus over a casino lounge band backing while Vlautin tells the story of a couple enjoying the boho thrill of living in a crumby neighbourhood – until the inevitable happens. With even more restraint, the near perfect vignette “A Letter To The Patron Saint Of Nurses” brings an overwhelming sense of drowsy closure fitting for the final cut – an atmosphere so powerful that it’s a real effort to do anything other than switch off and curl up. The faint glimmer of hope from the final line is just enough to let sleep come easily with the chance of better fortune with a new day.

Embellishment from piano, pedal steel, and on “The Boyfriends”, a marvellous bittersweet flourish of trumpet are all added to the basic mix intermittently and faultlessly. Together with the variations in tempo and song structure the interest hardly drops. “Only “Ruby And Lou” doesn’t quite click into place – a mournful cello not being enough to carry the seemingly cramped lyrics. The best of the narrative songs adopt the first person, and the two very best feature hugely confrontational climaxes. “The Boyfriends” paints an alarming picture of a drunken hook-up (”She said she wasn’t used to drinking / But I could tell she was“) being interupted by the single mom’s son, before flipping in time and perspective to catalogue a succession of ‘uncles’ as witnessed from the singer’s own childhood. A wonderful, wonderful song. “Two Alone” is a fiercely emotional 6 minute mini-opus (there’s been rock operas, but ever an alt-country opera?) where bitterness ebbs and flows in a drama played out between a son and mother (”watching the credit card TV“) echoing the departure of long gone father (”You’re gonna run / You’ll be just like your Dad“), with whom he also never shared a bond (”I don’t like sports and I never will“). More desolation comes with the desperate tale of a reformed alcoholic who finds redemptive focus but ultimate destruction in boxing, and the guitar freek-out in “43? conveying the tension and angry frustration of a man forced into illicit drug manufacturing to make ends meet.

Don’t come here looking for a good time, but do check them out when they tour here in September. This is an intelligent, engrossing, and immediately venerable, yet naturally approachable, album that may well settle down into a being an understated classic. With many a depressing yarn and phrases that stick and tumble around in your mind, perhaps the best and simplest message comes from the single line of the beguiling, almost instrumental, “Watch Out”. “Watch out or your heart’ll be nothing but scars”. Now, like I said, I’ve just got to curl up and sleep. Everything will work out better tomorrow.

http://rapidshare.com/files/267273474/Richmond_Fontaine_-_We_Used_to_Think_the_Freeway_Sounded_Like_A_River_-_2009.zip

the cave singers – welcome joy 2009

i cant really say to much about this album other than it is amazing and you really need to own this album . this is a high contender for the best album of 2009 i doubt very much that something will beat this .

http://www.mediafire.com/?mmm4ndnmzwt

david bazan – curse your branches 2009

been waiting for this solo album from david bazan for ages now . if your not familar with his work he wa the front man of pedro the lion before spliting and of the band headphones . his song writing is just amazing and clever , i do recommend that you grab this album .

http://rapidshare.com/files/263760580/davidbazanIP.zip

drive by truckers – the fine print 2009

dont really know where this came from it was a bolt from the blue . i should check there web site more often to see what the DBT are up to . anyway i havent heard it yet thought i would post it quick and i’ll review it later .

http://rapidshare.com/files/262093554/Drive-By_Truckers_-_The_Fine_Print__2009__K.rar

robert pollard – elephant jokes 2009

this guy has had a huge impact in my musical journey through the years from guided by voices to his solo work he is a true master of his work and people should really own more of his work and GBV .

http://www.sendspace.com/file/hdman2

green on red – gravity talks

green on red wow here is my album for the weekend if you like your music with fuzzy guitars and with a bar room brawl sound then this album is for you . this is surely gonna be blasting from my stereo today so beware neighbours .

http://rapidshare.com/files/75542180/1983_Gravity_Talks.rar

mazes – mazes 2009

debut album from mazes and i only stumbled across this by accident while trawling thru myspace . its a nice little album in the folk indie pop genre . i guess it would be nice if you have friends around and you want something easy on the ears that wont impose to much attention . my girlfriend really likes and and a bunch of her friends say its good . so if you wanna give your chic something its a safe bet .

http://rapidshare.com/files/230017820/maso.cantstopthenoize.rar

if your still not sure about it then check out there myspace

best song on the album for me is i have laid in the darkness of doubt

devendra banhart – nino rojo

With NINO ROJO, San Francisco Bay Area neo-folkster Devendra Banhart brings forth a companion to his acclaimed REJOICING IN THE HANDS, released earlier in 2004. Sitting barefoot by the metaphorical campfire next to Beck, Tiny Tim, Karen Dalton, …    Full Descriptionand Vincent Gallo, Banhart plays acoustic guitar and sings in a manner that’s quirky, catchy, and a bit spooky. Here the tunes range from loopy ditties (“We All Know”), warbled mantras (“Ay Mama”), and half-crooned/half-whispered sing-alongs (“A Ribbon”) to works that include a little help from his likeminded friends, including Vetiver’s Andy Cabic (“At the Hop”).

“Little Yellow Spider” comes off like a perverse Raffi record, as interpreted by Mississippi Fred McDowell. Later, Banhart channels the vocals of both Blind Willie McTell and Marc Bolan for “Noah,” which includes whistling and a mournful piano. The enhanced CD presents a great, “psychedelicized” video of Devendra and friends jamming on “At the Hop,” which will surely cause pleasant flashbacks for anyone who’s ever spent a weekend in a woodsy cabin full of hippies.

ok so a little different from what i have been posting but today has been a little weird for me so i got pretty drugged up and thought i would put this on my ipod . and it all made sense in the end to me . dont ask me to explain this album or even figure it out but it works when your tripping in the sun . do try it you may like it and i dont mean the drugs thing thats just my choice .

http://www.mediafire.com/?k9z42xnuu4y

bonnie prince billy – sings greatest palace music

 

 

Those who like the earlier versions of these songs may take issue with the cleaned-up updates and how the steady vocals of Bonnie “Prince” Billy-era Oldham supplant his Palace-era yelp. But there is something undeniably intriguing about hearing … “Ohio River Boat Song” with a female backing chorus and weeping, countrified electric guitar, or rich strings and saxophone supplementing “Viva Ultra.” The songs themselves, of course, are strong as ever, and many Palace music devotees will enjoy hearing them recast. The top-notch production and country arrangements should win some new converts to Oldham’s back catalogue as well.

http://www.mediafire.com/?etzemtbgeyy

my girlfriend says to me everytime i put this album on “what the fuck is wrong with you ” cause everytime i put it on i drift into my own little fucked up world were nothing can touch me or even get close to me . this album is always guarenteed to take me to this next level i just sit chill out eyes closed and batter into the wine . go on try it you will love it

song of the day

wonderful song here by scout niblett and bonnie prince billy this song is taken from the album “this fool should die now”

the pack A.D – tintype 2009

A no-holds barred garage-rock-blues cage match played out between two dynamic young women from East Van. — the East side of Vancouver, B.C., Canada.

The debut CD, Tintype, got lips smacking about the group grinding out the sort of noise that made boys cry and girls hot and, well, sold freakin’ beers. The follow-up, Funeral Mixtape, got the group reviews in every major music press that there is. Aside from a few critics who long ago decided that there could only be one loud, awesome killer duo allowed to make it at one time, the rest admitted the new disc kicks ass. And it does it with blues, punk, grind, thrash and that deep swagger baby.

“We are not a blues band, even though people keep putting us there,” says Maya. “We both love the blues, but we are a garage rock blues group.”

“We don’t play “Wang Dang Doodle.”

http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?5yimyymfdmi

just one of the bands that are featuring low down at the end of the road festival . i will be posting other bands that will be on the bill from that festival .

the jayhawks – two angels (chords)

this is as near as i could possibly get it . sorry i dont do solo playing i leave that to my buddy .
INTRO (same chords are used for the CHORUS):

Em — G — D —-| C
G — C ———–| D

VERSE #1:

G   Am                           G
      I’d hoped to find you this mornin’
Am
  Talkin’ to the trees
Bm                Am            F             D
I could miss you,   After what went down.

G    Am                    G
      In false love could lie by you
Am
    While I’m swingin low
Bm                         Am            F             D
   I could steal down town   Making some sweet time

CHORUS #1:
play the chords through twice:
once with vocals,  once with solo guitar/no words

Em  G               D      C
Two Angels, one bad end
         G              C
this lifetime’s easy
                       D
Way back home there’s a funeral

VERSE #2:

G    Am                    G
  Think I’ll take to the   sidewalk
Am
   Knowin’ it’s not real
Bm                    Am            F             D
I cold steal downtown    makin some sweet time

CHORUS #2:(both times with words, no solo section)

Two Angels, one bad end

this lifetime’s easy

Way back home there’s a funeral

Two Angels, one bad end

this lifetime’s easy

Way back home there’s a funeral

  SOLO (over Verse chords, 1 time through)

Repeat CHORUS #2

song of the day

the most amazing song by the jayhawks what a combination these guys are

the jayhawks – music from the north country 2cd 2009

 

The Jayhawks – Music from the North Country: The Jayhawks Anthology [Deluxe Edition] (2009)

“Formed in Minneapolis in 1985 around the songwriting duo of Mark Olson and Gary Louris – along with bassist Marc Perlman – the Jayhawks brought together the best elements of country, folk, and rock. After four studio albums (including Hollywood Town Hall and Tomorrow The Green Grass) and numerous U.S. tours, Olson parted company in 1995, leaving Louris to carry on with a revolving lineup of bandmates, releasing the critically acclaimed albums Sound Of Lies, Smile and Rainy Day Music.

But that wasn’t to signal the end of Olson and Louris’ partnership. The duo reunited for three songs on Olson’s 2007 solo album The Salvation Blues, and they decided to continue working together under their own names. An album, Ready For The Flood, was released by New West this past January.

With Olson and Louris currently on the road performing both new songs and classic Jayhawks tracks, the time is right to release the Jayhawks’ first-ever compilation. Music From The North Country: The Jayhawks Anthology spans six Jayhawks albums, including their debut on Twin-Tone (Blue Earth) and the five albums cut for American Recordings. This double-CD-plus-DVD set gathers together b-sides, rarities, and previously unreleased material. The package was put together under the guidance of Gary Louris.”

ryan adams live 2001

here is a fine live recording from 2001 of ryan adams . this is probably his best work to date with all his classic songs like come pick me up etc most of these songs are taken from his best works from heartbreaker to gold . if your a fan of this fucked up dude then i think you must have this to your collection . if your new to him then its probably the best place to start . sorry its in megaupload but its a huge file .

tracklistings
01 – Intro
02 – New York, New York
03 – To Be Young (is to be sad, is to be high)
04 – The Rescue Blues
05 – Touch, Feel & Lose
06 – Nobody Girl
07 – When The Stars Go Blue
08 – Nervous Breakdown / Tina Toledo’s Street Walkin’ Blues
09 – Stage Banter
10 – Love Rollercoaster
11 – Stage Banter
12 – Sin City
13 – Shakedown On 9th Street
14 – Harder Now That It’s Over
15 – Stage Banter
16 – Saturday Night Special
17 – La Cienega Just Smiled
18 – Po’ Boy
19 – Answering Bell
20 – Saturday Night
21 – Stage Banter
22 – Firecracker
23 – My Winding Wheel
24 – Stage banter
25 – Don’t Ask For The Water
26 – Brown Sugar
27 – I Wanna Be Your Dog
28 – Come On Little Girl
29 – I Don’t Wanna Work
30 – Come Pick Me Up
31 – Rocket Man (with Leona Naess)
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=AVRYOOMB

song of the day

here is a wonderful song from the debut album the low anthem . if you dont own this album yet you really need a serious kick up the ass .

link update

the link has been updated for the low anthem – oh my god charlie darwin .

if any other link is broken in future let me know and i’ll update link asap

suprise album

had some friends around last night and as you can imagine the beer was flowing fast infact it was very fast and not to forget the great red wine to . anyway we were having a blues night and trying to come up with a real classic blues album . so as you can imagine we were all digging through my vast and fucked up record collection . and pulling out the usual suspects john lee hooker , muddy waters and robert johnson . anyway as the night was rolling on and the amount of blues we actuallytook in was staggering ( pardon the pun) ctually agree on anything . by this time the beer was taking its toll and things started taking a different turn when i put on led zep when the levea breaks it changed our outlook on what was blues and what wasnt . but who gives a fuck if its good its good .

anyway back to this suprise album after the shock turn to led zep it opened the flood gates for other albums some were not blues at all but could get were they came from . and then all of suden it came from the blue or the depth of a drunken head an album that blew us all away .

its not led zep or the usual suspects just download it and try and let me know what you think

http://rapidshare.com/files/131061756/Chulahoma.rar.html

south san gabriel interview & performance

http://www.roxwel.com/player/southsangabrielliveperformanceandinterview.html?detect_mediatype=flv&detect_bitrate=_300&big=1

midlake interview

Midlake didn’t wait until their third or fourth album to start branching in new directions. Between their two full lengths (and a handful of EPs), they have leapt from lo-fi to extravagant, from modern to nostalgic. Which is why the prospect of a new Midlake album is so exciting, especially as they have been crafting it for over a year, day in and day out, in their studio in Denton, TX. The bits and pieces I’ve heard are delicious. Tim Smith, Eric Pulido, and McKenzie Smith answered my questions about their lyrics, their work ethic, and their new songs.

How did the members of Midlake all come together? Did you all meet at the University of North Texas, or had some of you played music together before?

McKenzie Smith: Four of us met in the fall of 1997 while attending the University of North Texas. We were studying jazz and were in a completely different head space musically, which is kind of funny to think about now. I had known Eric Pulido since high school but he had gone to a different university. He was actually our manager for a short time before we told him to buy an electric guitar, move to Denton, and join the band. That was December 2001. It has been us five ever since then.

You spend a lot of time crafting your albums. Can you talk about the process and how you keep up with such a rigorous schedule in the studio?

Eric Pulido: The process is an ever-changing thing, but Tim will usually bring demoed versions of songs he’s written and then we will start working on them together to form and record. There’s not really an equation to how it comes together, we just run the gamut of ideas/instrumentation/sounds until we feel the magic. I think that’s what keeps us going — knowing that we’ll eventually get there.

What are some of the most favored pieces of gear in the Midlake studio?

McKenzie: It’s taken us quite some time to piece together what we have now, which is not all that much compared to most studios. But we do have a few nice pieces that are great to work with and certainly help to make great records. We record on a system called RADAR. It functions more like an old tape machine in that it has a session controller with big buttons on, much like a tape machine controller. It feels like you are using an old IBM desktop computer or something, without the monitor. We really love the simplicity of it and how it enables us to record in a modern way (i.e. digitally) but has an organic feel to it. There is no monitor with squiggly lines going by or the ease of just ‘fixing’ everything in some fancy program. It’s pretty cool. Oh, and it sounds really good, too. We also have a Distressor and a Fatso, both made by Empirical Labs, that we love and use all the time. We also have a few channels of Neve 1272s that get a lot of use. As far as microphones go, we love our Royer 122, our Neumann U87, Soundelux U99, Sennheiser 421s, and AKG C 414.

My favorite Midlake memory is listening to all of you singing along to America and Bread, with all of your gorgeous voices, when Tim was playing his iPod one night. It seems like you all love so much of the same music. Are your tastes very similar, and where do they diverge?

Eric: Thank you, Anna-Lynne, we must have been lip syncing! We do share a lot of the same musical tastes and have gone through several different phases together. Much of what we’re listening to is an influence to the music we’re making, so we really saturate ourselves in a style/era and inherently it comes out when writing and recording. As far as diverging, there are always guilty pleasures that everyone has (secretly or shared) but since I don’t want to get anyone in trouble I’ll just share my own… ’80s dance!

When the band’s sound shifted from jazz to indie rock, and later to folk, was that a response to all of the band members’ tastes shifting, or more about Tim leaning toward a different kind of songwriting and bringing it into the studio?

McKenzie: Over time, all of our tastes have changed and grown quite a bit. It’s natural, and I think very important for anybody, really. Tim is the musical visionary for the band, but we have all been quite happy following his lead and we have all worked hard to contribute and be a unified band that works together to get the music out that Tim writes. We all had to stop playing rock music like jazz music students, which took awhile, but now our jazz backgrounds are being used more and more in the way of improvisation on the new album.

There is an antiquated sense to the lyrics on The Trials of Van Occupanther, a type of vocabulary and sensibility that predates modern music. Are there particular fables or folk stories that served as inspiration? Did you have a specific time period in mind for the scenes of the album?

Tim Smith: Well, I’m into paintings by Bruegel and the film Andrei Rublev by Tarkovsky. I’m sure some inspiration was gathered from these. Other than that there wasn’t anything too specific that I can think of that influenced the feeling of the album.

How are you feeling about the new album and how close is it to being completed?

Eric: We all feel really good about the album and are looking forward to its completion. It’s been a long year and a half, and hasn’t come without its goods, bads, and uglies, but we feel like the time has done us well and we’re ultimately better for it. It should be completed this summer and we’ll have a firm release date at that time. That will be a glorious day.

Is it still slated to be called The Courage of Others, and where did that name come from?

Tim: Yeah, “The Courage of Others” was a song I wrote after Occupanther was completed. It was intended to be used as a b-side, but after recording the first version of it we felt it should be on the next album, so we saved it. The lyrics start out: “I will never have the courage of others, I will not approach you at all, I was always taught to worry about things, all the many things you can’t control.” So, we had our title for the next album.

For the new album, did you collectively discuss as a band what direction you wanted to move in and what you wanted to do differently before you started writing, or did you wait to see where the album took you?

Tim: We started out recording the songs I’d been working on over the previous months. They were sounding all right and could’ve made the album except that our musical tastes were changing once again and we weren’t satisfied. So new songs were written, different ways of playing (for us) were being figured out, and much conversation about the direction of the sound was had.

What other artists or art forms do you find inspiring your music lately?

Tim: The biggest influence on the new music has been bands like Fairport Convention, Steeleye Span, Jimmie Spheeris, Pentangle, Strawbs, The Incredible String Band, Amazing Blondel, Bread Love and Dreams, Black Sabbath, Sandy Denny, Yellow Autumn, Mellow Candle, John Renbourn, and many others. So I guess we got into more of this British folk thing and a ‘fair maiden’ thing as I call it, but I don’t think we really sound like these bands, though there is more than a hint of it on the new album.

Interview by Anna-Lynne Williams

yeasayer – all hour cymbols 2007

If most recent indie music is suggestive of a stylistic revisionism from the very recent past, Brooklyn outfit Yeasayer stretches far and wide to vast musical vistas–combining various pre-modern and pan-ethnic traditions into their own volatile … brand of psychedelia. ALL HOUR CYMBALS, the band’s debut release, hints at the spiritual possibilities of ritual music. Gospel-inflected chorales, chants, and whirling drones meld into powerful multi-part harmonies. But rather than succumb to cheap ethnocentric tropes, Yeasayer imparts a highly personalized aesthetic and symbology to their sonic omniverse.

A sense of existential dread and apprehension toward the hereafter characterizes vocalist Chris Keating’s lyrics. On the Celtic-folk dub number “2080,” Keating confesses, “I can’t sleep when I think about the future I was born into.” While interlocking polyrhythms and modal guitar create a dreamy tapestry of hazy psych-folk atmosphere, the chorus billows into a furious communal chant. But the album’s luminous spiritualism is best represented on the opening track, “Sunrise.” Tumbling tribal percussion and ominous organ drones create an unsettling atmosphere that eventually gives way to a transcendent, gospel-inflected vocal part. Reveling in music’s transformative, cathartic power, Yeasayer have crafted a bold, astonishingly original take on anthemic rock.

http://rapidshare.com/files/75140211/Yeasayer.zip

i stumbled across this band while i bought the mojo magazine this month . now i have seen them being hawked around but never really gave them a listen till it was on this free compilation and the track just blew me away . its called sunrise . even my girlfriend likes it and thats saying something

Yeasayer – Sunrise (Black Dominoes Remix)

 

the low anthem – oh my god charlie darwin 2009

here is a little something to get you through the weekend . let me know what you think of it .

The group’s Nonesuch debut, Oh My God, Charlie Darwin, offers an elegant sort of Americana. Its songs about long-ago travels and romantic travails, eternal longing and inevitable leaving are often hushed, dreamy and mysterious. Simple folk-song structures are uplifted by hymn-like, chamber music arrangements. The three young multi-instrumentalists Ben Knox Miller, Jeff Prystowsky and Jocie Adams recorded the album in the most remote place they could find near their Providence, Rhode Island, home: ‘In the ghostly stillness of a Block Island winter,’ as they put it. The intimacy of the makeshift studio they created in their chilly off-season environs is palpable; Paste declared, ‘The Low Anthem’s harmonica-and-string-flavored ballads are as haunting as they are gorgeous. This group of Providence up-and-comers knows how to break your heart and make you smile at the same time.’ Not everything is understated, though: on ‘The Horizon Is A Beltway,’ they raise an exuberant acoustic clatter that recalls Bruce Springsteen’s work with his Seeger Sessions Band. They also cover Tom Waits’ ‘Home I’ll Never Be,’ a raucous adaptation of a Jack Kerouac poem.”

http://rapidshare.com/files/248557775/Oh_My_God_2C_Charlie_Darwin.zip

interesting music related sites

http://www.endoftheroadfestival.com/

http://www.themusicianpub.co.uk/

http://greatbahen.blogspot.com/

http://captainsdead.com/

http://riversburn.blogspot.com/

end of the road festival 2009

just got our tickets through to possibly the best festival in the uk and what a line up this is . after last years line up i thought they could not beat it , but it looks like they have . check out the line up

Explosions In The Sky Fleet Foxes The Hold Steady Okkervil River Steve Earle
Alela Diane Herman Dune Neko Case
Archie Bronson Outfit The Broken Family Band Dirty Projectors Efterklang The Horrors Magnolia Electric Co. Richmond Fontaine Shearwater Vetiver The Acorn Alasdair Roberts AU Bear Driver Blitzen Trapper Bob Lind Bob Log III The Boy Least Likely To Brakes Charlie Parr Chief Dan Michaelson & The Coastguards Dan Sartain Darren Hayman David Thomas Broughton Dent May & His Magnificent Ukulele The Dodos The Duke and The King Emily Barker & The Red Clay Halo Esben & The Witch First Aid Kit The Hand The Heavy Holly Throsby Howlin’ Rain Iain Archer J Tillman Jess Elva Joe Gideon & The Shark Laura Gibson Lay Low The Leisure Society Loney, Dear The Lost Brothers The Low Anthem Magic Arm Malcolm Middleton Motel Motel Mumford & Sons The Mummers Ohbijou The Pack A.D. Peter Broderick Quack Quack Sam Baker She Keeps Bees Soy Un Caballo Sparrow & The Workshop Spokes Stardeath and White Dwarfs Stars of Sunday League The Tallest Man On Earth The Tenebrous Liar The Week That Was This Frontier Needs Heroes Tiny Vipers The Travelling Band Treecreeper Twi the Humble Feather Whispertown 2000 Wildbirds & Peacedrums William Elliot Whitmore Wye Oak Zun Zun Egui 

 

south san gabriel – welcome convalescence 2003

last night i sat in the rear garden drinking wine like it was water and soaking up the glorious sunshine of the early evening and i had this album playing on the stereo and it captured the moment just right . the wine was fast flowing and going down a treat and i just had my last glass from the third bottle and the fucking dog kicked it over god i could of strung him up cause it was lovely and i was in no fit state to go over to our local store to buy more .

anyway back to this album its great and its deep sounding it’s the kind of album that resonates in your head the next day and wanting more . so check it out .

http://www.mediafire.com/?kn3n2zlmejn