Author Archive for smansmith

If You Haven’t Heard - Donovan Woods

Published
by
smansmith
on October 2, 2008
in Folk, New Album Alert, On iTunes and Singer Songwriter
. 1 Comment

This one is going to be a keeper folks, the fourth installment of If You Haven’t Heard - “Donovan Woods”.  Oh, did I mention we also have an unreleased new song as well??  Well, let’s not get ahead of ourselves.

I have been listening to Donovan Woods for a little while, and in that short while I have found out that I tend to listen to him more than most artists (thank you Last.fm stats).  There is a reason for this, plain and simple, his music is something that you can listen to, be amazed by, and not get tired of.  Since picking up his 2007 release “The Hold Up”, it has ended up being one of my most listened to albums.  His music reminds you of something that could be recorded by Sufjan Stevens (but without the theatrics).  There is great guitar work, harmonies that compliment his strong knowledge of what works and sounds good.  His music can be classic songwriter sparse and build up in tempo to an almost upbeat folk feel.  At first I was a bit surprised that at times, such a delicate delivery of lyrics came from a guy that just might kick my ass for saying “delicate”.  I guess I can just be thankful that Donovan likes bloggers.  In fact he assures me that us “denizens of internet musical delivery” have been integral in his growing popularity.  Well I think that this blogger enjoys delivering this music, classic folk/singer-songwriter stuff - songs that you can almost sing along to and not feel stupid doing it…ya know?  Remember I said “almost sing along to” - I don’t think I have the chops of Mr. Woods.

Woods is a local in the Toronto scene (of which the photo above is from the a live gig at the Central) and is currently signed to the Sunny Lane Records Label.  You can also pick up a copy of “The Hold Up” from iTunes (highly recommended) and after that you can wait alongside me for the upcoming 8 track EP “The Widowmaker”.  I think that the EP should surface soon, but an exact release date hasn’t been released (well, to me at least).  AAAAND….although you will still have to wait to purchase the rest of the EP, we have a taste of new material in the form of the unreleased track “Phone”.  The song stays true to Donovan’s acoustic and piano driven ballads with that heartbreaking delivery of the lyrics and that classic build to the chorus.

I hope you enjoy this one as much as I do and after listening I assure you that Donovan Woods will start to climb your list of favourites if he isn’t already there.  Don’t forget to visit Slowcoustic for more great Donovan Wood music on the mirrored post over there.

~Smansmith

 
 Donovan Woods - "Phone" - from the unreleased "The Widowmaker" [3:42m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 
 Donovan Woods - "Virginia Firm" - from 2007's "The Hold Up" [3:54m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 
 Donovan Woods - "Married to the Sea" from the album "Slow and Steady" [4:04m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

If You Haven’t Heard - Ghosts I’ve Met

Published
by
smansmith
on September 22, 2008
in Americana, Folk, Indie, Singer Songwriter and Unsigned
. 1 Comment

Well here we are at the 3rd installment of “If You Haven’t Heard” and I have some beautiful Americana ballads from “Ghosts I’ve Met”.  So put down your whiskey and grab the one that you want to hang onto and press play, you won’t be disappointed.

Sam Watts is the heart of this “rotating cast” of players that enjoy the Ghosts I’ve Met title and he has been welcoming many an artist to join him over the last few years.  The recordings see influences and assistance from co-founder Ben Blankenship along with Anne Marie Ruljanchic, Brent Arnold, Jen Turner, Karen Waltuch, Margaret White, Michael Lerner, Joe Seely and Amy Bezunartea - did I say rotating cast yet??  Take a trip over to the MySpace page and see all the artists this group has worked with…who’s who to say the least.   Recordings have taken place over the last few years (since 2005) and although not all of his material has seen the light of day to this point, there has been a release earlier this year of an EP entitled “Payphone Patience” (that should be for sale through snocap in the US and their MySpace page).  I have been lucky enough to receive a few tracks so as to not stalk his MySpace player.

The EP hmmm…it floats some sadcore Americana ballads that encompass and wrap around you, and not just singer-songwriter stuff, this is full band heartache here.  The title track brings beautiful piano accents (from Darren Jesse of Hotel Lights - thank you very much) alongside a waning violin…stunning.  This is the kind of stuff this EP is made of and while it has been done before, it usually isn’t done quite this well.  It is a bit confusing why there isn’t more of this band floating around, they definitely have an audience in me (and now you fair readers)

I have included the aforementioned title track for “Payphone Patience” along with one other song.   The additional track is another great track from the EP - “Reno”- a bit more of a laid back string arrangement than “Payphone…” and is another example of the the sound of “Ghosts I’ve Met”.  Remember to visit Slowcoustic for another track, “Ghosts in the Snow”, on the mirrored version of this post over yonder.

Hope you all like it, now go to the MySpace page and convince Sam to release that full length album!

~Smansmith

 
 Ghosts I've Met - "Payphone Patience" [3:13m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 
 Ghosts I've Met - "Reno" [5:10m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Castlemusic - You Can’t Take Anyone

Published
by
smansmith
on September 16, 2008
in Alternative, Experimental / Psychedelic, Folk, New Album Alert and Singer Songwriter
. 0 Comments

Jennifer Castle, or Castlemusic as she is known, is a Torontonian songstress with what can be called a mix of traditional singer-songwriter infused with a bit of fringe folk.  However you describe it, I think you are going to like this one.

Castlemusic has a new release entitled “You Can’t Take Anyone” which from what I can take is a beautiful collection of down-tempo folk, and slightly toned down version of her live performance persona (but I need to see her to believe it).  The album is rich, textured and even a bit frayed at the edges at times, but it works for Jennifer.  The songwriting excels here with what seems is an undertone of stray bitterness - just enough to carry off a great song, but leave you wondering if she was pained in creating it.

Castlemusic gets assistance in delivering her creation to recording from Ryan Driver and Doug Tielli who both contribute vocals along with an assortment of backing instruments.  Don’t get me wrong here though, the album is heavily influenced by Jennifer, her guitar and her songwriting - described as below:

“…to lyrically write in the often sad voice of a person who feels alone, while playing and singing like a person who reaps the uninhibited and beautiful benefits of this state.”

One of my favourite tracks is the title track with it’s “worbly” vocals and accompanying electric guitar to mirror that very style - awesome.  To witness this, take a listen:

 

Castlemusic - “You Can’t Take Anyone”: Play Now | Play in Popup

You may also enjoy a little 4-track recording of a live performance of “Heaven” as well, take a listen below. With “Heaven” you can feel the rawness of the song, but maybe it is just that live performance persona I have been hearing about…I hope you like it as much as I do.

 

Castlemusic - “Heaven” : Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

~Smansmith

If You Haven’t Heard - Small Sur - We Live In Houses Made of Wood (2008)

Published
by
smansmith
on September 8, 2008
in Acoustic, Folk, Indie, New Album Alert and Singer Songwriter
. 0 Comments

Third installment of “If You Haven’t Heard” and once again I bring you gold here people! Along with the two previous Monday posts, you must hear this if you haven’t already - I really mean it…see below.

Small Sur seems to be a bit of a play on a slice of California life, doesn’t it?  Well maybe if you grew up in North Central United States and followed that up with a few years on the California Coast, you might be a “Small Sur” as well.

Well maybe small in name but not in stature or talent, Bob Keal is the heart of this Small Sur.  Keal brings a honest, hushed folk sound to the table, a table that should be located at an old family cabin, deep in a haunted wood.  His music also feels like it lends to a slower time with down home roots and lazy afternoons.  I know I feel at home with this album, but I often get lost in a lone singer and an acoustic guitar.  Although at times you might feel like all items are merely accents to what Keal and his guitar are bringing to that table, there is more than just one lone troubadour on this album.  There is great harmonies from Julianne Nelson, bass and percussion from Scott Dennison and Austin Stahl respectively, with a personal favourite (the banjo) being supplied by Andy Abelow.

Small Sur finds itself on the Tender Loving Empire label who have just released this great album on August 19th of this year.  They have been touring this summer and have shared the stage with other great artists from Jana Hunter and Johanna Kunin to Wooden Wand.  For those keeping score, the likes of Jason Molina and Will Oldham are listed in the “if you like, then you should like…” notes from the label - not bad company if I do say so myself.

Small Sur can also be found on their MySpace page here.  I just might say, I am not shy in admitting that I have an early entry into my “best of 2008″ post this December…(it is like I keep saying that phrase a lot lately).

You can check out the mirrored post on my own blog - Slowcoustic here.  Included is another two tracks not included here, so go git ‘em!

~Smansmith

 
 Small Sur - "Ohhhhh pt.1" [4:49m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 
 Small Sur - "Big Sur" from 2006's self titled EP [2:30m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

The Donkeys - Living On The Other Side (2008)

Published
by
smansmith
on September 6, 2008
in Alt-Country, Americana, Folk and New Album Alert
. 1 Comment

So I have recently been introduced to “The Donkeys” who hail from San Diego, California by a good friend in Rosenheim, Germany…figures I have to hear about some good alt-country from some German!  All kidding aside, thanks Pip for keeping your eye on the ball!

This is not your father’s Donkeys from the 60’s/70’s, but the new breed – wow, that sounds awkward…breeds of donkeys…  Well, let’s just get back to the music, shall we?  The Donkeys bring both the slowed down Americana alongside some mid tempo alt-country.  For the un-initiated this may sound like the very same thing…no so my friend.

I have chosen two tracks that display this very phenomenon - “Dolphin Center” brings us a mellow Alt-Country ballad featuring some piano and great guitar accents (I dare say guitar solo even) – this is not your father’s Country music.  Then we have “Boot on the Seat” which has a mid tempo (it does actually reach mid-tempo near the end there), and a truer Americana sound with use of slide guitar, simple bass line, harmonica and some southern drawl.  Okay, maybe Alt-Country and Americana can be interchanged for both tracks…I almost had you for a bit though.

You might even remember them from their appearance on Daytrotter from 2006 (2006!!!!) that includes “unreleased” tracks at that time that have made it to this album.   So take a listen and once you have the feel for this album then head over to Dead Oceans and pick up a copy upon its release on September 9th!

~Smansmith

 
 The Donkeys - "Boot On The Seat" [4:32m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 
 The Donkeys - "Dolphin Center" [5:42m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

If You Haven’t Heard - The Cloud Hymn

Published
by
smansmith
on September 1, 2008
in Indie, Singer Songwriter and Unsigned
. 4 Comments

How do I describe “The Cloud Hymn” other than simply repeating the newly assigned band name?  I mean, no better description for a band lies in its name than the artist I have before you today.  In the same way the band Death Vessel is a polar opposite of band name to band sound, this is a polar opposite of that polar opposite…lost yet?  Basically The Cloud Hymn might just sound exactly what you would think they would - beautiful, airy and floating along (but with guitar and piano…).

Okay, seriously though, this unsigned Minnesotan talent took me off guard with the wonderful soundscapes and expanse of raw emotion.  There is a dreamy ease to everything I have heard so far, but with a sad undertone that you can take away from more than just the lyrics.  You can get lost inside of it all, even knowing it is a place built by/for one person.  Whether you write/create due to personal experience (which is the case here) or just because you enjoy doing it (which is also the case here), I think that this cloud project is drifting in the right direction.

Taking us along in the right direction is John Nielsen handling the writing, vocals and guitar for his project.  The terrific piano accents are brought to you from Paul Brandt and some wonderful additional vocal pairing from Tani Alyssa Eckdahl.  Together the three have provided an almost ethereal display of these sad, but beautiful songs.

While I mentioned drifting above, I mean moving forward to a release of a full 11 track album by the fall (hopefully).  Nielsen (the man behind the curtain for TCH you could say) assures me that this currently untitled album is completed and just in the midst of mastering prior to that pending release.   There are some good folks in Eau Claire, WI at “The Distillery” that are assisting in the endeavor (here’s lookin’ at you Eric!).  Well all I can say is I am looking forward to hearing the album and getting lost in it all.

I have two demo tracks for you all below, so drift along with these until the full length CD arrives and I try to sell you all on them all over again.  Until then, visit their MySpace page here.

~Smansmith

 
 The Cloud Hymn - "Wide" [3:48m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 
 The Cloud Hymn - "Moon" [4:14m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

a Singer of Songs

Published
by
smansmith
on August 30, 2008
in Acoustic, Folk, Singer Songwriter and Unsigned
. 4 Comments

So another day of scouring the web for some good music and actually a day that I found something special.  Of all places, on MySpace (it isn’t all that bad after all, I guess…) I have found an artist that represents perfectly my preference of the hushed and unhurried sound.  Everyone, I give you “a Singer of Songs”.

More than being a basic description: “a Singer of Songs” is an alias sparse enough for it to be enough for him, fitting from the very first time you hear him.  By “him” I mean Lieven Scheerlinck, who by name alone seems to not be a native of his current residence in Spain (or maybe he is, I am just Canadian what do I know?).   Regardless of where he may call home, his songs would never be far from where he may lay his head.  His songs are soft, beautiful, and at times heart wrenching.  Recorded in almost single takes each time, they are always kept fresh and in the moment of when they are written.   I feel that the songs that have been recorded are not “spur of the moment” but simply of the moment.  Take them as a slice in time where experiences and feelings make it to recordings almost immediately as time and hindsight can soften the sharpest edges (if you know where I am going with this).  Regardless of what Lieven may have gone through in order to have such songs of heartbreak and beauty, I thank him for sharing them.

While his solo recordings might seem “dark and lonesome”, you may also enjoy another facet of his work in the band “Birdcircus”, which retains some of the rawness of a Singer of Songs.  While the band could be considered folk/Americana and even indie (sorry for that label) and I feel that Lieven’s sound has become a part of Birdcircus, a part that I believe can be heard in the newer 2008 tracks from the band.  Let me know if you feel the same way, check them out via their MySpace pages - a Singer of Songs & Birdcircus.

With that, I will leave you with how Lieven described his music to me and how he relates to it – “…a piece of wood to hold on to when the waves get too rough…”

I hope these songs find a home with you.

~Smansmith

 
 "A Pleasant Afternoon" - a Singer of Songs [3:15m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 
 "Joy of a Solitary Man" - a Singer of Songs [4:40m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download