Monthly Archive for June, 2008

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Idiot Kid

Published by Geordie on June 14, 2008 in Acoustic, Alternative, Folk and Indie. 0 Comments

Yes i know it’s summer and everyone is meant to be happy that the sun is shining and listening to happy music to represent these feelings of summer glee. Well not me, more of an Autumn/Winter man myself and perhpas this music is best suited for those seasons but what the hell. This is an album i forgot i had and it was while having my music on random blasting through the house that i came across it again. Idiot kid are from Sweden and are mainly two members, Annsofie lundin and Linus lutti and this album ‘darkness in our house‘ came out in 2007. With titles such as ‘Death will come’ and ‘last breath’ you can imagine it’s not going to have you skipping along in the sunshine but nevertheless is for me some of the best music to come out of Sweden in a while. I mean, that country in the last 5 or 6 years especially seems to have created some of the best music around, I could name 20 bands or artists in a row here but to save time and also to give swedesplease another plug then go there and you will see what i mean. Saying that i think Idiot kid stand out as they are not trying to be quirky or trying anything particularly new but with just the simplest of arrangements have created music of pure beauty. This is at times bleak and moody with whispering harmonies to keep it all finely balanced with some haunting piano, acoustic guitar and some strings to back it all up. I could listen to this whatever the season, watching the sun rise, the snow fall the rain fall or in the bath which i was doing when it came on my stereo making me get out of it earlier than i wanted to remind myself who it was playing, It would complement them all perfectly. Imagine a swedish Will Oldham and you are somewhere close to what this sounds like, i hope you enjoy and 3 cheers for Random play otherwise i may not have come across this again in a long time.

Idiot Kid – Letting Go

Idiot Kid – Go to sleep

 

Travel by sea – Days of my escape

Published by Geordie on June 13, 2008 in Acoustic, Americana, Country, Folk, Indie and New Album Alert. 0 Comments

Just got hold of the new album ‘DAYS OF MY ESCAPE‘ by Travel by sea.  Kyle Kersten and Brian Kraft live in seperate parts of the states, Kyle in California, Brian in Colorado. Now i’ve never been to either of these places but after looking on Google earth it looks like it’s quite a nice drive and i would imagine  this album would be the perfect soundtrack for such a journey. This is at times as sparse as that landscape (I’m guessing at the the landscape here as i’ve already admitted i’ve never been) but if they are trying to portray their distance  from one another and the landscape in between through their music then they have done a pretty good job. Fans of Mojave 3, iron and wine and Dolorean would enjoy. They have two gigs coming up in California at the O C Tavern on the 9th July and then The Scene bar on the 29th. Perfect music for the time of year but then it’s always hot in Cali right?

Travel by sea – Songs of warmth

Travel by sea – Let it all die down

 

Joe Pug – Nation of Heat (EP)

Published by Trini on June 10, 2008 in Americana and Folk. 2 Comments Tags: , .

I just love it when a fellow music lover recommends artist to me. Tom sent me a heartfelt thank you for writing about him but he needs not send thanks, his music is enough for me. So keep it coming Tom.

Without even having to ask who he was listening to at the moment, he directed me to the talented Joe Pug. Not just because he’s his buddy, but Tom was right he can really write a song. Joe is quickly becoming one of my favorites and I’m sure he is soon to become yours. Take a listen and if you like what you hear get his EP, you won’t be disappointed.

If you live in the Los Angeles area Joe will be performing a The Hotel Cafe on Monday, June 23rd at 7 pm.

 

Amos Lee – Last Days at the Lodge

Published by Trini on June 9, 2008 in New Album Alert. 3 Comments

AMOS LEE -

“Paul Simon and John Prine influence his Last Days”

I’m sitting in a hotel room in Nashville this past week and I come across a collectors addition magazine on performing song writers. How did I almost miss this? Amos Lee has a new album coming out on June 24, released on [Blue Note]. So I quickly began doing some research and alas I found some tunes. When asked about the album’s influence he states that it was strongly influenced by Paul Simon and John Prine. Amos responds, “I like the perspective his songs come from. There’s a certain wisdom there, something heartbreaking, but at the same time they make you smile. It’s as if they give you a beautiful blanket to lie on and feel OK while you’re dealing with the pain.”

The album title comes from a place close to home. It’s a little hotel with a lot of history. The Sportsman’s Lodge has been around for many years and recently was bought but investors who are “maybe” going to change it up. It’s such a historic place that I couldn’t imagine it being turned into a trendy hotel. I guess Amos felt the same way – “the title refers to the hope that the integrity of that hotel and what it means to people, survives. There’s an integrity to things that can disappear.”

The hotel has a long history of celebrity from Clark Gable and Spencer Tracey to Katherine Hepburn and more currently has been a favorite of those in the music industry…Tim McGraw, David Lee Roth, Brian Wilson— you never know who you might see at the pool. Sportsmen’s Lodge Hotel is a favored hideaway for those in the entertainment industry and a place to call home while on the road.

 

Say it ain’t So – Mark Berube

Published by Olivier on June 9, 2008 in Acoustic, Alternative, Folk, Indie, New Album Alert, News, Rock and Singer Songwriter. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , .

Do you remember ? ‘Do you remember some warm september… one sunny afternoon…‘ I can’t resist dealing with a song called ‘Say it ain’t so’ and not evoke Murray Head. Murry Head ? One night in Bangkok ? ouch.. forget this one ! Prefer : Mademoiselle, Children only play (Do you remember…), Cocktail Molotov, Los Angeles, Never even thought, Last daze of an empire, Say it ain’t so, Joe… Well, Murray Head !

In a different style, but both inspired and talented, – and comparisons must being stopped here – Mark Berube as written down his own ‘Say it Ain’t So’… and it seems that his new sister-album, from his magnificent ‘What the river gave the boat‘ ; ‘What the boat gave the river’ – which is not a clean catholic concept – is already recorded, and will be available around august / september.

In the meantime, listen to this fabulous ‘Say it ain’t so’ recorded live @ the Cultch in Vancouver and check Mark Berube’s myspace page to listen to couple tracks from his forthcoming album : ‘Yesterday’s Halo’, ‘Flowers on the Stones’, ‘Minus 17′ are already rated 5 stars on my itunes library : singular symphonies oscillating between chamber pop and folk ; powerful lyrics ; an accurate sense of the melody ; and above all a blessing talent for sharing his music !

Artist : Mark Berube
Label : none
If you love the sound of this piano song, you should also enjoy Arlan Feiles

 

Thomas Kitt finds it impossible to lie in a song.

Published by contributors on June 7, 2008 in Artist/Band Interview, Folk, Indie and Rock. 0 Comments

Thomas writes honestly and you can definitely hear it in his songs. In his myspace influences section he states, “bad lyrics wreck my head, I’d rather hear a simple lyric or none at all than someone trying to be smart but sounding like a Donkey.”

Once in a while I come across a song or an artist that will grab my attention and my ears will start pulsing, so was the case when I first heard Thomas Kitt. His song ‘Die Tryin’ is an absolute beauty with its funky beat and hopeful lyrics. His heart breaker ‘Girl with a Whispered Name’ is one I’ll listen to over and over with lyrics like “you’ve only got yourself to blame she breaks your heart, the girl with the whispered name, while her heart barely makes a sound”. Since there is not much info on Thomas he kindly agreed to do an interview with me. I hope you will enjoy his music and interview as much as i did, thanks Thomas.

Check out the songs I mentioned above and a couple others on his myspace page.

YCD: Please tell us a little about yourself, how long have you been making music etc?
TK: I’ve been singing since I was very little, come from a musical family. My dad thought me guitar when I was 7. I guess I started writing my own tunes seriously in my early twenty’s after gaining a bit of life experience. I play cards to fund making albums and I’m a serious optimist.

YCD: What are your top 3 song of the moment and why?
TK:emmmm
Operator by Jim Croce. Absolute classic. Been listening to his stuff on vinyl lately. It’s got the best line ever in a song, about a girl that’s left him.
“she’s living in L.A. with my best old ex-friend Ray”
I love songwriters who possess such turns of phrase.
“So sorry” from Feist, opening track on her Reminder album. Great song beautiful voice, wonderful arrangement, just can’t stop listening to it these days”.
Anything from Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, absolutely love their stuff.

YCD: Who’s been the biggest influence in your musical career?
TK: Guy Clark a Texan country singer songwriter would probably be my biggest songwriting influence. I’m definitely going for the brutally honest style of songwriting, it’s all I know, and he’s the master at that. Life influences me the most though, I’m fascinated by it.

YCD: Where do you see yourself/music five years from now?
TK: It’s such an uncertain business money wise, i.e. there’s not much going around but the great thing these days is that you can make records a lot easier, so I guess if I’ve 2-3 more albums that I’m happy with, done in five years and I’m healthy and happy I’d be delighted. In reality I’ll probably have a few Grammys in the bag :)

YCD: Do you or your music get compared to anyone else? If so, do you see that as good or bad?
TK: You get compared to a fair few people in reviews and such. Sometimes it can be very complementary, other times not so much. It doesn’t bother me whatsoever if I’m compared to someone I don’t think is any good. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion musically.

YCD: Are you working on anything now? Touring?
TK: I’m always writing and the new album is taking shape at the minute. My debut album was released in Ireland about a month ago, so I’m doing the odd bit of gigging and promo. I don’t like force feeding people my CD, I much prefer the subtle word of mouth way of getting your music out there (probably my biggest fault).

YCD: Who would you love to sing or gig with?
TK:Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, Guy Clarke. I’d love to work with T-bone Burnett

YCD: And last but not least, if you had one super power what would it be and why?
TK: That’s a tough one. The greater the power the greater the responsibility. I’ll just go for x-ray vision, top see through cards in a poker game.

all the best
t

Susana.

 

Arlan Feiles – Come Sunday Morning

Published by Olivier on June 7, 2008 in Acoustic, Americana, Folk and Singer Songwriter. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , .

I’ve been quite silent these past months, partly due to my business and partly due to the fact that few albums really fascinated me. Amongst the few, one is still playing from start to end : Come Sunday Morning from Arlan Feiles !

For his second full length solo effort, Mr Feiles has composed and produced the most appealing collection of tracks : from americana-tinted ballads including banjo, dobro and fiddle, to pure acoustic guitar-vocals promenades and through some perfect folk piano driven harmonies. A rich combination where the Los Angeles native songwriter found place to lay his engaged lyrics – album is even including a spoken track ! Here’s an excerpt from his biography page..

‘It is now again time to be tested as Americans. To become the difference makers that have shaped the world today. As one voice as a nation of hope. A Demand for peace fairness and liberty to every man, women and child. To insist on the promise of justice. To reclaim our rights afforded by the good people of the greatest country in the world. The dream is not forgotten. – Still always a dreamer.’

Come Sunday MorningFacing such a talent – Arlan has shared stages with The Band, The late Warren Zevon, Hot Tuna, Joan Baez, Richie Havens, Warren Haynes, Dave Mathews, Bob Pollard, and many more. – I could not resist buying his previous album. “Razing a nation” released in 2005 and re-issued last year is also written in the same vein. It contains the single Sign-up who has been top of the list of Neil Young’s “Living with War- Songs of the Times”.

Once again, I won’t torture myself selecting the single track to tease your ears as each of this amazing album deserved to be listened… here’s the intro -album – titled track.

Artist : Arlan Feiles
Label : Not Pop Records
Where to Buy : cdbaby.com

 

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