Monthly Archive for December, 2007

Fingerprints – Matt Costa

Published by Trini on December 31, 2007 in New Album Alert and News. 0 Comments

First off, I want to wish everyone a very Happy New Year! Before you all go out to celebrate the new year I want to leave you with a bit of news from my favorite indie record shop Fingerprints. If you live near by this is a sale you don’t want to miss. If you’re a fan of Matt Costa and you want to see him up close, buy your album January 2nd.

Whole Lotta Sale

 
Tuesday, January 1st, 12:00pm – 7:00pm SALE
Next, the SALE;We will be opening at a very hang-over friendly noon on January 1st and we will be offering a store-wide 15% off discount on every new item, including CDs, LPs, DVDs, books, and toys, plus a whopping $2 off all used CDs over $3.99. Start your day with a heaping plate of goodness at one of the gloriously greasy breakfast places on 4th St. and then drag your bones on down to get 2008 off to a nicely priced start.

Matt Costa Returns!

 
January 22nd, 10:00am – 6:00pm
Private Matt Costa in-store to follow
Matt Costa And finally, the real party:January 22nd finds our small town hero Matt Costa releasing his second full-length album and we’re going to kick it off properly, with a house-party. This will be a “closed to the public” event, with wristbands available to anyone in our Live Music Appreciation Society (that would be you, if you’re on this email list) who pre-buys Matt’s new album before January 21st (after the 21st, if there are any left, they will distributed on a first come, first served basis – but we all know how these things work out….) We will be closing at 6:00pm on this night, with Matt performing a live set beginning right about 7:00pm for all who managed to get a wristband. If you are unfamiliar with Matt you are missing out, he is a fantastic songwriter, a great live performer, and a good friend. Check out his Wikipedia page for an intro, then pop over to his mySpace page to sample some of his new music. The pre-sale begins on January 2nd at 10:00am for walk-ups, 11:00am for phone-ins, and aren’t recommended for internet shoppers. One wristband per CD purchased, limit of 2 per person. Please note these are not transferable (unless it’s like an emergency and we find you to be both familiar and convincing).

Click to pre-buy Matt’s Unfamiliar Faces

 

Andrew Bird

Published by contributors on December 30, 2007 in Indie and Rock. 2 Comments

Andrew Bird - Picture

Your probably already acquainted with this snappy dresser, but on the off-chance you aren’t…

Ever wonder what Jack Johnson would sound like if he had a different set of influences? Or if he grew up in the sprawl of the American Midwest, with a violin instead of a guitar? I hadn’t, but Mr. Bird always reminds me of that. And the names Bird for a reason, this guy can spit out a whistled tune with such warbling clarity that I can’t help but find myself trying to rediscover that particular musical art all over again. And it ain’t pretty.

Josh.

 

Deer Tick – War Elephant

Published by Olivier on December 26, 2007 in Acoustic, Americana, Folk, On iTunes, Rock, Singer Songwriter and blues. 1 Comment

John McCauley is gifted with this huge story-teller talent, that could bring you on the opposite side of the world playing the same tune. A delicious mix of blues and country highlighted with a distinct nasal accent coming out from what could be described as a long term smoky/drunken voice – John you’re too young !! Volupté, we deserve my friends – Pleasure, Deer Tick will give us !

Deer Tick - War ElephantEven if I have to admit that the band’s name are far to be attractive – a good friend of mine is fighting against lyme disease each day and we’re infested half the year in the pyrenees by those parasites. My curiosity finally won over my poor froggy sense of humor – it’s so good to be French sometimes – and it has been once again fully rewarded…

Artist : Deer Tick
Label : Feow Records
Where to buy : Emusic – Itunes

 

Marissa Nadler

Published by Laura on December 22, 2007 in Folk. 1 Comment

color8.jpg Bored and surfing the net one day, I stumbled upon Marissa Nadler’s music snooping around on the wonderful Daytrotter (great site, that one!)….I must say this woman sounds like an angel…she has one of those hauntingly beautiful and melodic voices that strikes you immediately.

Marissa’s soft and sad ballads bring you back to another place in time…finger-picked guitar compliments her voice perfectly. This delicate blend forms some truly stunning folk ballads. She has said in interviews that she is into traditional Appalachian music and it comes through in some of her songs.

Not only is this talented young lady a musician, she is also artist. Check out some of her artwork here on her webpage.

A review about her album “Songs III: Bird On The Water” taken from her MySpace:

“They talk of loss, death, grief, the brokenness in love, transgression, and the appearance of being able to move freely among these very strong emotions while becoming so informed by them: her world view and her heart’s view are not only informed by them, but inseparable from them. Nadler has written a song suite here that fully articulates her strongest gifts: she never has to reach for notes, only to open her mouth and they pour like honey, slowly, purposefully, and look at the smaller entrances where her imaginative narratives enter the human being and root themselves there for lifetimes. There are no seams in this album, and to quote her lyric poetry out of the context from the music would be an injustice. Song III is not to be compared with any of the recordings of her contemporaries. She falls for none of the traps, she communicates with a kind of gentle candor that is unsettling, elegant, and utterly graceful. This is music that is violent in its ability to shift the listener’s attention toward it, but it is delivered gently, slowly, and purposefully. For those who have been seduced by the works of Buffy Sainte-Marie’s Illuminations album, Tom Rapp’s later solo work, the recordings of Bill Fay, late Current 93, Antony, Michael Cashmore, Leonard Cohen’s early material, or the middle period records of Pearls Before Swine, this is certainly for you…. Disturbing, beautiful and unforgettable, Song III: Bird on the Water is among the most arresting recordings of 2007 thus far and sets a new high-water mark for this seemingly limitless songwriter. ” – All Music Guide, 2007

Buy her music here:

iTunes

Eclipse Records

“Bird On Your Grave” video:

 

Mark Berube – What the River gave the Boat

Published by Olivier on December 21, 2007 in Acoustic, Folk, Singer Songwriter and blues. 0 Comments

AS : “Have you heard the story of what the river gave the boat? I said “No, I haven’t”
She said “Don’t worry,” as she rolled down the window and gave the wind a smile to carry to the next car down the road. There’s still a long way to go.”

Mark Berube

Those words are the conclusion from Mark Berube last album : What the river gave the boat : a superb collection of songs and lyrics that immediatly gave me the desire listening to his previous releases.

Once again, Canadian rules ! I’ve discovered Vancouver singer songwriter, Mark Berube sooner this year with the release of this album. Described by Kevin O’Brien as the “Nina Simone’s baritone brother”, Mark Berube is a surprising composer mixing sources as different as blues, jazz, pop, rock, creating his original style. From a lyrical Lhasa de Sella to a jazzy Tom Waits, Mark’s music is floating somewhere over the borders : piano, accordion, dobro, trumpet, acoustic guitar. From his Canadian home land, to his South African raised one, Mark’s lyrics are travels in both historical and geographical ladders.

As Mark is growing with every album, and knowing that this last release is the first of a double album – the following will be released in 2008 and be titled : What the Boat Gave The River – I have already set an alarm on this guy and hope that you’ll be part of his fans.

PS : “.. Nous reveillerons tous les rêveurs qui ont oublier la facon de rêver “ .. Those are some French lyrics from the same fabulous song ‘The Barber Shop ‘ that close this amazing album… It should mean : We’ll wake up all those dreamers that have forgotten how to dream.
PPS : Sorry for not having writing about this one sooner !

Artist : Mark Berube
Label : none
You should absolutely buy it @ cdbaby.com

 

Ryan Montbleau Band – Patience on Friday

Published by Trini on December 20, 2007 in On Tour. 3 Comments

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My pick of the week is a little different than what you’re all used to hearing on here but I enjoy listening to the Ryan Montbleau Band and I’m sure they’ll become a favorite of yours.

The band returned to a little farm in Woodstock, NY in early 2007 to begin work on this second studio release. From bare vocals with lush string arrangements, to modern rhythm and soul, to two-beat gypsy jazz-like numbers, this is the band’s best work to date. That’s what Ryan thinks, anyway.

You can find a list of all albums and where to buy here.

On MySpace

 

DOLOREAN

Published by Geordie on December 19, 2007 in Acoustic, Americana, Country and Indie. 0 Comments

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Another slice of Alt-Country from yes, you guessed it Portland Oregon, the mecca it would seem of the Alt-Country-Americana world. I’m surprised they haven’t been picked up yet on any blogs. Dolorean make dreamy sounding Alt-Country which will have you staring out of rain lashed windows for hours dreaming of a better place. They have released three albums already but I have to admit I’ve only recently just heard about them through my friend Shaun, at Gilded palace of sin in Brighton, after his recomendation of the album ‘you can’t win’ which is their latest of the three. It is an album of lush sounds similar to the likes of Justin Rutledge, Damien Jurado, Denison witmer as well as other established Alt-Country acts such as Richmond Fontaine. Sadly I missed their Brighton gig recently as I was otherwise engaged seeing Ray LaMontagne at the Royal Albert Hall in London.

In my opinion Dolorean are as good as anything coming out of the Alt -Country scene right now and it’s criminal that they are being overlooked. Give them a chance, I’m sure you will be pleasantly surprised.

 

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