Author Archive for Olivier

Kelley McRae - Highrises in Brooklyn

Published
by
Olivier
on July 2, 2008
in Acoustic, Alternative, Folk, New Album Alert and Singer Songwriter
. 0 Comments

This will be part of a short-post series, as most of my days have been filled with family, business, and wild life ! So I would like to beg my pardon to the artists for not taking time to probe my mind and writing longer posts. Be sure that I ‘ve taken time in months of listening ( with heart and soul) before suggesting any of the following artists and i’m quite sure most of you will be touched by those talented songwriters.

So the first of this series is the unqualified Kelley McRae ! First ; because, she will speak for me : both her portrait ( … )

and performance !

What else ? Kelley McRae released her first full length ‘Never Be’ - produced by J.D. Foster (Calexico, Laura Cantrell, Richard Buckner) in 2006 : a beautiful collection of honey-sweet harmonies including numerous treasures (Johnny Cash, Stone Cold Sober, Time, Never Be…).

That’s It ? No. Fasten your seatbelt : Kelley forthcoming album ‘Highrises in Brooklyn‘ will be released this August 19th and be produced by Brian Deck (Iron and Wine, Modest Mouse, Josh Ritter, Counting Crows). I didn’t get the privilege to hear more tracks than the ones already available on her myspace page but she’ll confirmed me that ‘Long Walk Home’, the song performed on the above video at the Forcastle Festival will be part of it. Forgive me for the low audio quality of this sample - audio track extracted from the video- but it’s a permanent loop for couple weeks !

 
 Long Walk Home - Kelley McRae at Forecastle Festival [3:03m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 
 Time - Never Be - Kelley McRae [4:22m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Artist : Kelley McRae - be sure to visit Kelley’s official website as Never be is fully streamable.
Label : SonaBlast
Where to Buy : The Connection, CdBaby.com, Amazon

The Waterboys - Kiss the Wind

Published
by
Olivier
on June 15, 2008
in Acoustic, Alternative, Folk, New Album Alert and Rock
. 0 Comments

How can I resist posting couple lines about The Waterboys new collection ‘Kiss the Wind’ ? 20 years - or more - after, I’m always addicted to Mike Scott vocals. And his own interpretation of my Rolling Stones preferred ‘Wild Horses‘ is simply increasing my addiction !

Kiss The Wind is a special collection of unissued and rare music exclusive to this store, compiled by Mike Scott from material in the Waterboys sound archives. Its 16 songs were recorded between 1991 and 2006, spanning the Room To Roam, Dream Harder, Rock In The Weary Land and Universal Hall eras. The tracks include several legendary or rumoured items, a couple of rare live beauties and a generous number of terrific never before heard songs.

 
 On My Way to The Big Light - The Waterboys [5:41m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Including, an old-time favorite ‘Stolen Child‘ , this new collection is available only in digital format here.

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

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 !

 
 Say it ain't So - Live at the Cultch - Mark Berube [5:41m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 
 Los Angeles - Murray Head [4:48m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

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

Arlan Feiles - Come Sunday Morning

Published
by
Olivier
on June 7, 2008
in Acoustic, Americana, Folk and Singer Songwriter
. 1 Comment

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.

 
 Come Sunday Morning - Arlan Feiles [3:42m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

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

Shearwater - Rook

Published
by
Olivier
on June 3, 2008
in Acoustic, Alternative, Folk, Indie, New Album Alert and News
. 0 Comments

I’m a long time fan of Austin Okkervil River and of their two dissidents, singer/songwriter Will Sheff and keyboard/accordionist Jonathan Meiburg who founded  Shearwater. Their new opus ‘Rook’ is available from today (3rd of June), almost (North Col, 11th track is only available from the LP version) fully streamable from their myspace player.

Don’t miss a single track ! The band really captured the best of their art !

 
 Rooks - Shearwater [3:21m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Band : Shearwater
Label : Matador Records
Where to buy : Matador Records
You should also enjoy : Camphor, Great Lake Swimmers

Aimee Mann - @%&*!Smilers

Published
by
Olivier
on May 30, 2008
in Alternative, New Album Alert, News, Rock and Singer Songwriter
. 0 Comments

Just a quick reminder for all of You Crazy Dreamers… Aimee Mann forthcoming album will be released, June the 3rd !

 
 Freeway - Aimee Mann [3:50m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Josh Geffin

Published
by
Olivier
on May 30, 2008
in Acoustic, Folk, New Album Alert, Singer Songwriter and Unsigned
. 0 Comments

Some of you have already noticed that I’ve got a last.fm account for about a year. I’ve subscribed an account only to get stats about artists I’m listening… and I’m not really addicted with everything dealing with community, and not convinced with their similar artists listing. But for the first time las week, I’ve finally found an artist that really matches my mood while listening to Colby Stead ..

A promising young british songwriter named Josh Geffin ! Promising ? Yes, Josh only released a single 4 tracks E.P. for the moment but what a collection ! A stunning debut, a perfect resume for any major label seeking to enlarge their acoustic songwriter catalog. Josh finger style acoustic guitar and delicate compositions remind me Andy Whittle. As usual, when each track is a pure wonder, here’s the intro song :

 
 Put Down the Gun - Josh Geffin [3:24m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Josh is currently working on his first full length, some pre-album demo tracks are available on his myspace page. Be sure we’ll update you with a release date !

Artist : Josh Geffin.
Label : none
Where to buy : CdBaby - Itunes
You should also enjoyed : Andy Whittle, Colby Stead