Blitzen Trapper – Destroyer of the Void
June 17th, 2010 | by Max Jacobs | published in acoustic, americana, folk-rock, indie rock | 2 comments
The 5th album from the six-piece Portland band threatened to be another collection of dark folk songs mixed with raw and screeching rock tunes. Aside from the six minute rock ballad that starts things off, however, the record stays comfortably within the band’s mellow folk repertoire.
Preview: Villagers – Becoming a Jackal
April 15th, 2010 | by Jess Alatorre | published in acoustic, folk, indie rock | 7 comments
Villagers’ debut album, “Becoming a Jackal”, is almost at our fingertips and the blog world suggests it has become one of 2010’s much anticipated releases. The songs of Villagers are the brainchild of Conor J. O’Brien. His lyrics read like poetry; the words could stand alone and still be art.
Broadcast 2000 – Broadcast 2000
April 7th, 2010 | by Jess Alatorre | published in acoustic, folktronica, indie pop | 3 comments
Multitalented singer-songwriter Joe Steer is the main guy behind this music. He uses computer-generated looping to build lush arrangements with various acoustic instruments. The result? A smattering of folk, acoustic, indie musical layering. While in the past Steer played all the instruments, and then layered, this time he enlisted the help of violinist Tom Hobden of Noah and the Whale. His live shows feature a full live band, to recreate the songs he first composed.
Preview: The Tallest Man On Earth – The Wild Hunt
March 31st, 2010 | by camden andrews | published in acoustic, folk | 3 comments
With his second album, Matsson still hangs on to the bare elements of his music while expanding its rustic sound to a more pop feel. It’s still just him and an instrument, but his voice has softened a bit to cover more romantic material, exposing his gritty, lone-ranger persona as someone with high hopes and dreams.
March 15th, 2010 | by Jason Grishkoff | published in acoustic, alternative, female vocalists, punk | 1 comment
It was surprising to me that with 2010′s release of “Junior”, the acoustic/instrumental songs that marked her last album have been jettisoned to the interludes; in their place are a number of eclectic tracks that range from dance-punk to indie-rock. It was the last thing I was expecting from this album, and I couldn’t be happier about it.
Strange Birds – Strange Birds EP
March 4th, 2010 | by Jason Grishkoff | published in acoustic, alternative, folk | 5 comments
Aidin Sadeghi and Bret Leinen compose the two-man duo that is Strange Birds. The majority of their work sounds distinctly like the exhibited by Coldplay in their songs “Parachutes”, “We Never Change”, and in particular, “Easy to Please”. At the same time, however, Strange Birds obviously don’t have Chris Martin’s distinct voice leading the show. Indeed, there are a number of elements that set them apart, including clean and round acoustic guitar that strums to a clean and upbeat, jazzy cadence.
February 15th, 2010 | by Jason Grishkoff | published in acoustic, female vocalists, folk | 4 comments
I will declare it right now: the best folk band to have contacted me these past 2 months is without a doubt, Rosie and Me. Singer, Rosanne Machado, accurately describes the group as “unpretentious and simple”. Both ‘Come Back’ and ‘Bonfires’ are acoustic wonders that sound and feel as natural as the change of the seasons and as spontaneous as Snooki from the Jersey Shore. These positive, warm melodies are almost enough to fight the cold winter this year and keep you refreshed during the summer.
February 3rd, 2010 | by Hannah Simon | published in acoustic, folk-rock | 1 comment
I couldn’t help but smile the first time I heard Bahamas LP Pink Strat. Though it was a rainy day in San Francisco, as I listened to the dreamy tunes of Afie Jurvanen, I was transported to summer bliss. You see, Jurvanen is a Toronto musician who doesn’t let the cold Canadian winters into his songs. He’s spent the last few years playing piano and guitar with popular Canadian bands like Feist, Jason Collett, Howie Beck, and Hayden. Bahamas marks his step into a summery, solo-artist spotlight.
January 21st, 2010 | by Jess Alatorre | published in acoustic, bluegrass, folk | 1 comment
I recently read a blog about why we travel and somehow this band has reminded me of that article. The science blog says that travel allows our brain to be more creative, as we open ourselves to a constant stream of surprises. Even once we go back home, and even though everything might be the same, everything is different because our framework has changed. Mumford and Sons does this for me- I feel the confusion that comes from surprise, and it leaves the possibility for newness in discovery.
December 21st, 2009 | by Jason Grishkoff | published in acoustic, female vocalists, shoegaze | no comments
Warpaint are a band whose name is being increasingly dropped around the internet, and upon my first listen through their EP, I decided that it needed to be dropped some more. So here goes: Warpaint are a Los Angeles based psychedelic/shoegaze band formed in 2007, who have notable press from the late Heath Ledger, Billy Zane, and also from John Frusciante under their belts. In fact, it is John Frusciante who produced their debut release Exquisite Corpse for Manimal Vinyl earlier this year.
