One of the most anticipated albums for me this year is The Deep Dark Woods. Their 2009 album Winter Hours was in my top albums of that year and their new one, The Place I Left Behind is now becoming a firm favourite of 2011. There are many things to love about TDDW. Their consistency for one. In all their four releases so far they have yet to make a bad one, in fact it’s very difficult to put them in order of preference because they are all outstanding. Like some of the old songs they have covered in the past they make music that i think will stand the test of time, albums that you will return to time and time again. In fact, their albums are very much like that, they don’t always grab you on your first lesson but over a period of a few, but each one brings something new, a favourite new track or a missed lyric that makes you go back and listen again until you realise that you are listening to one of the best bands around. However, it’s impossible to miss, be it on first or last listen the sad, wistful voice of lead singer and main songwriter Ryan Boldt. Does anyone sing a murder ballad better? Also, everyone in the band can really play as the video below clearly shows (also on the new album). Not many bands are making music as good as TDDW as far as i’m concerned.
Now signed to the brilliant Six Shooter Records the new records is out on 2nd August (Canada) and Sugarhill records are releasing it worldwide on 18th October. Their next shows are Edmonton F0lk Festival and then various dates across Canada and beyond. Go see em.
If you really can’t wait for the album to be released you can stream it here.
Regular readers of this blog will know what a massive fan of Serious Sam Barrett i am having wrote about him way back here and here. With a new album due out hopefully later in the year, for now he’s got together with his good friends and fanatastic rock ‘n’ roll band from Alabama, The Pine Hill Haints and are about to release a joint 10″ record on Yadig Records.
Comprising of two tracks each, Sam’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Heart is a song about the break down of a various relationships in which he finds solace by listening to his old 50′s rock ‘n’ roll records, music that holds a place deep in Sam’s heart and so therefore something he can always rely on to get him through the hard times. His second, Truckstop Sunrise, played majestically on the banjo speaks of his love of the road, in this case he’s some 300 miles from Austin and he ‘wishes he could ride these roads forever as he’s never felt so easy or so free’ while ‘I love my home but this place has got me going’ still reminds us he hasn’t forgotten home, a place he loves and often sings passionately about, Leeds.
Pine Hill Haints Alabama ghost music (their words, not mine) is a mix of rockabilly, bluegrass and country and some of their youtube footage is incredible. Full on, more punk than country at times and are a band really worth checking out. On this split 10″ they sing 16 coal black horses with it’s chugalong bassline giving it more a honky tonk feel than the country/punkish sounding The Nail That Rises Up Will Be Hammered Down. Some of their music i’ve seen and heard reminds me a litte of the Clash but that could just be me.
Obviously i won’t be offering you an mp3 from this split release seeing as it’s only two tracks each but i am offering you a live version of Rock ‘n’ Roll Heart that Sam played when he supported the incredible Charlie Parr at The Basement, Brighton back in February.
Sam is totally D.I.Y so please buy his records, go see him play if he comes through a town near you, you will not be disappointed. Enjoy.
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