I would like to take this opportunity, dear blog reader, to introduce/remind/revisit a bit of Americana called Blackbird Harmony. While some of you may know Mr. Evan Birdsong (pictured above) and his band - you may need a fresh listen. A fresh listen (if it be for the first time, even better) to something you will revisit again and again in the future.
While us bloggers like to “promote” or as we call it “listening to us congratulate ourselves on providing great music to the masses”, I truly want to promote this one (I have a sister post over on Slowcoustic as well to get the word out). While Blackbird Harmony (to be known as BbH for the remainder of this post) has been around for a while, they are fairly new to me. Their label - Yer Bird - and myself are well acquainted and I tend to get updates and provided with music I was previously oblivious to – a win/win situation if ever there was one. One such update was BbH and I am glad to have been introduced via the 2008 album “Hardwood Exits” – I mean I actually purchased a CD (who actually does this anymore…).
I bring this to your attention today as I have had BbH’s “Hardwood Exits” for a few months now and think it is a great album that will most likely end up on a top 2008 list of mine at year’s end. I have recently got my pasty hands on the demos from the album that include some intimate solo recordings from 2007 that were previously unreleased. WOW, I love the demos. I am a sucker for acoustic sets of favourite artists, and when you can get them I always recommend them, as they tend to be the blood and guts of an album. This is true on this the “Hardwood Exits” album especially. While I am not recommending the demos instead of the official release, it is an accompanying necessity. When listening to the studio album you realize that it is great classic songwriter Americana, and with the demos you see the stripped down roots of the recordings, the one on one beginning of the final product. So to get your copy, visit the Yer Bird label and sign up for the Aviary (access to many other artists in the label’s catalogue included!) at a very reasonable fee.
To give you that nudge in the right direction to BbH, here is one of the stand out tracks from both the studio and demo release. Tell me this is not something you needed to hear. Go ahead, try to tell me…
~ Smansmith
Like it, a lot.
Absolutely beautiful Smansmith… this album is a must have and ‘Blankets’ track will be a long time favorite of mine ! For the ones who want to get through those demos… Those are available right from Mr Birdsong’s blog : sounds of fury.
Thanks for the update Olivier, I definitely suggest everyone head over and pick up the demos from Evan’s blog! One little extra is you get Lionel Ritchie song “Hello” remade in folk noir (and it not on the album). Go now, go git it!
Yeah ! I’m far to be a Lionel Ritchie fan, but it a superb track… Proof that the original is a great material !
The more i hear these the more i hear some Will oldham influence, his voice at times is uncannily like Will’s. Can’t be a bad thing if you ask me.