Song o the day today is selected for two reasons (well three really) and comes from the lovely Kay Pettigrew.

The reasons go something like this: I listened to the Ohbijou live session yesterday via Third Floor Sessions (which was great by the way) and while there I took a look around, as I tend to, and noticed that Kay Pettigrew was the inaugural episode! I did a quick post with a cover Kay did for the theme song of Fresh Prince of Bel Air over on Slowcoustic (click to listen) a while back so I started thinking. The song generated a fair amount of airplay for Kay around the blogosphere and ended up being on the Hype Machine popular charts via myself and a couple other bloggers. So that is a reason isn’t it?

Another reason is I felt I needed to post again as I wanted to make sure that people see her for more than just that cover track. Her Third Floor Session is full of folkish sing-a-longs, bluesy riffs and gritty Canadiana alongside an incredibly mature sound for this young Torontonian. So this is a reason as well isn’t it?

The last reason is simply because I am located in Calgary which is at the base of the Rocky Mountains and this weekend started our “adventure” into winter (see here for a twitted photo from this weekend in Calgary). So this is definitely a reason isn’t it?

Well if none of the above are not enough of a reason, then I don’t know what else is. You can download the entire session from her live session HERE…maybe that is the reason??

“Adventures In The Rocky Mountains” – Kay Pettigrew

Visit and purchase some Kay Pettigrew:

~~~

~Smansmith

I don’t remember who sent me this “blast from the past” album from FatCat Recording artist Curtis Harvey.  It might have been one of these You Crazy Dreamers bloggers, so I thought I would put a bit of finger to keyboard for it.

The album “Box of Stones” is a new release (Nov. 3rd here in North America, rest of planet still pending I think) and is choke full of acoustic country folk that is just a bit more country than folk.  Almost like the album cover, I believe it speaks to another time of sephia toned whiskey joints and live roots music.  The sound created seems both personal and full of energy (even if it is a bit down tempo at times) with Harvey’s blood and guts built right in.  It is said that he recorded the entire album in his basement with few takes – just took it as it was.  I think that is why it seems full of that energy – it is really him, not his recording mixed and reproduced 50 times till it’s a fraction of the sound it once was.    A song like “Borrowed Time” has a straight forward structure but seems like was put together like it was happening all at once.  It might be the collection of sounds in the background, but I don’t know – it just sounds that way.  You can also have a songs like “Joking” or “Words” which are more in the vein of a back porch tribute to a previous time while at the same time being quite beautiful.

Another great track I found on the album is the sing a long “Oldertoo” which is a bit up tempo and brings a bit of kick to the step of this sad bastard.  It brings in banjo and an easy sound…I think it could just be the leg slapping (or what is reminiscent of a lite version of “foot stompin’ honky tonk”) – that track is included below, see for yourself!

Sidenote and recommendation: I do know I have kind of beat the vibe of “Americana past” into the ground for this post.  I have noticed with today’s indie music landscape where there is a country folk artist on every indie label’s roster (and maybe Harvey is FatCat’s resident guy with a guitar), Harvey brings a country worth considering.  With that, Curtis Harvey’s album is definitely worth a few spins, especially while sitting back with a favourite beverage of choice.

Curtis Harvey
“Oldertoo” (mp3)
from “Box Of Stones”
(Fat Cat Records)

Buy at iTunes Music Store
Buy at eMusic Delivery
More On This Album

~Smansmith

I first wrote about Tom and the boys here. At that point they had only released a single and were about to go off to Dallas and record their new album. Well not’s much changed in terms of releases since then but I have been informed by them that the EP release is imminent with the full album to follow not long afterwards. These are looking like they will be self released on their A little something label via their management team of Autonomy Music Group So to wet your appetite just a little longer here is another mp3 which I have been granted which was recorded in one of the emperor’s (Bobby’s) living room. In his own words,  ” It’s got a great feel, with some clarinet, mandolin and double-bass action going on, Tom in preacher-man mode and a nod or two to James Brown in the chorus. It’s about as close as we get to a fun song”

He has promised me that the Ep and  album has plenty of misery for us to indulge in though so that’s nice.

Please sign up to their webpage here where you can still get a free download and also be told of any further news. They have also granted us here at YCD an interview around the time of the EP release so if you have any questions let us know and I will ask away.

Finally, they have an intimate acoustic gig coming up on the 23rd July at the Hideaway in North London. More deatils of that here. I’ve not had the pleasure of seeing them live but apparantly these intimate shows are exceptional and not to be missed.

My favourite snippet of information is about them is this.

“You really get a sense that the Emperors are seasoned veterans of the London music scene and I can’t believe they won’t be playing much larger venues very soon, like Nick Cave jamming with Tom Waits playing in a Jazz Bar during a Tarantino movie… toe-curlingly good” – livemusic.fm

Watch this space kids.

With a requiem-intro switching fast into a light-chords, drum-buried based symphony, Sanders Bohlke teased our appetite for his upcoming EP on this amazing dual song : The Weight Of Us. For my fellow Ray LaMontagne’s forum members, no surprise at all : Sanders Bohlke is distilling with a surgical precision his melody and orchestration knowledges ;  for you to choose between Trouble and Empty, guess he reached the delicate and beautiful balance !
Find below a  too low 128kbps webrip version of “Somewhere” another masterpiece, don’t be eager, wait for the release of this phenomenal new EP.

For the best of our world, bless this talented artist buying his music : for yourself, gift it in any occasion.

Artist : Sanders Bohlke
Label : Ampere Records
Where to Buy : The Weight of Us single is available on major digital platforms, choose the least worst.
I’m still starving : you still be hungry visiting is myspace, but don’t miss his first eponymous full length here.
Not enough ? check earlier Ray LaMontagne, Gregory Alan Isakov

Even if our tags cloud is headlining a huge Tom Waits, we had not post a single song about him ! Am I wrong ? Shame on us !

Ante Scriptum : Instrumental tracks are open doors for the dreamers who want to take a step back and get swept away by some infinite readings, or contemplate various horizons. Come to think of it, I would draw the following comparison : an instrumental track is to a song what a book is to a movie. Even if the title of those tracks can give you some clues to walk the artist’s steps : those pieces are wide-open spaces for freedom and dreams. So, from time to time, along with our discoveries, this new Without Words section will tip you and offer you this ultimate vagabondage…

The poetry of Michael Gulezian should have been a royal way to open this section… but it’s been couple weeks, i’m listening to John Fairhurst first effort Joys of Spring ; due to my seasonal aspirations – it’s still snowing around -  there’s no way to avoid this amazing share.
Manchester guitar virtuoso, John Fairhurst merged on his debut album an eclectic collection of songs that preserve every critic to draw any comparison. His musical landscapes will drive you from those wide American spaces with rock and blues to some light British Folk shore for finally reaching some eastern territories.

Ok, I guess some of you would have think it’s a complete non-sense : preaching for imagination and giving you a boundary video. It’s true but, i’m here to tease you and  I guess this short movie is a perfect appetizer for approaching John Fairhurst music.  “Obnox Stomp” is the album intro track, here is the second piece for rocking your sunday without limit :

Artist : John Fairhurst
Label : Humblesoul
Where to buy : Humblesoul – emusic
What else should I enjoy :  John Craigie

What the common point between :  Robert Johnson, William Shakespeare, Karen Dalton, Jack Kerouac, Astrid Kirchherr , Lead Belly , Alan Lomax , Furry Lewis  and Jacques Brel  ?

No Idea ? They’re all united as e-friends on Howard Eliott Payne myspace page ! Howard Eliott Payne ?

Howard Eliott Payne was formerly the frontman in The Stands but since disbanding a year or back, has become a solo artist to be reckoned with. He has just completed his debut solo album which was recorded and mixed in just seven days on a 8 track tape machine with legendary producer Ethan Johns (Ryan Adams/K.O.L./Ray Lamontagne). It features some of the finest local musicians (including his sister Candie Payne), and self-funded by the sale of “a really nice electric guitar”, Bright Light Ballads is, like Howard Eliott Payne, a unique melting pot of Liverpool melody, New York groove, hip city swagger and the wide sigh soulfulness of the wild open country. Rootsy and unearthly in equal measure, at times raw and visceral, at times startlingly tender. (source SXSW)

This is all i’ve found from a short biography page on last.fm and on its SXSW schedule page. So let the music tell his full story

I can’t resist evoking the name of The Waterboys lead singer Mike Scott after this Come Down Easy listening. With this first solo release, Howard Eliott Payne explores the potential of his songwriting between folk, blues and country. Not sure a choice has to be made as this 10 tracks collection offers through thoses various musical landscapes a light ballad.

Artist : Howard Eliott Payne
Label : Move City Records
Where to pre-order  ? Tower or check your local Amazon e-shop before the Itunes release date (april 20th)

Something slightly different from me this time.

For those of you who listen to my Simple folk show on radioreverb.com will over the past year or so heard us air a session by Joe Gideon & the Shark which was recorded a while back. I always meant to put them up here but somehow life got in the way at those moments but after seeing them live very recently I have put a halt to everything to make sure I write about them now.

Joe and Viva, a brother and sister duo make up the band. Joe on vocals and guitar, Viva on everything else, Drums, keys, vocal, all played from behind her drum kit and often simultaneously. It’s impossible to imagine how just two people can create a sound this brilliant, a sound that for me is impossible to describe as I hear so many influences in it. At their loudest reverberating best I hear some LCD soundsystem, The Fall and when Joe talks/sings he reminds me of Smog and on the outstanding track, Anything you love that much you will see again, well that’s just uniquely theirs. On the track Kathy Ray, a song about a woman who was a backing singer for the Eurythmics and Ray Charles, Joe’s narrative about her has you listening intently  but then has you laughing at it’s unexpected turn, or at least it did me. There’s a few tracks like this on their debut album Harum Scarum, serious overtones with a humorous undertone, these are the most original band I’ve heard in a long long time and it’s so refreshing.  Currently on a UK tour after having supported Nick Cave and the Bad seeds and more recently Seasick Steve. I think that 2009 is the year they are going to break through to a more mainstream audience but I urge you to go and see them live if you get the chance as they will blow you away.

Officially my new favourite band (until next week). Enjoy.

And here it is !

Got so many albums to tip you about and such few time to write… so the music will do the job !
Just few information about Mr Bucaro : ‘Til Spring’  is his fourth full length and I still can’t believe his music didn’t reach my ears before… I had the opportunity to discover this album via MoreBarn Music (Neal Casal, Peter Salett… mentionning it them only for the curious..) and… and let’s simply say that this collection is producing an awesome mix of soul and blues producing enough good tunes to be part of this crazy website !  Yes I know, it’s a bit too self-centered but it should have gained your attention. If not :

And sure it will deserve more words … but sure you’ll be addicted to his music listening to more tracks on his own site : On the Map is simply unbelievable.

Artist : Clarence Bucaro
Where to buy ? right on this link
Who else should I enjoy : I guess Laura should have said Ryan Adams, but I prefer to mention Neal Casal

Jon-Rae Fletcher is a Canadian singer-songwriter who grew up in Kelowna, British Columbia. Born the son of a preacher, Jon-Rae sang in his church’s choir by day and fell in love with the music of Kurt Cobain at night. Combining his passion for the sounds of country, gospel, rock, and soul, Jon-Rae Fletcher created a unique blend of music, which at times is minimal and soul bearing, and at other times a full-blown-rock-throw-down.
Stunning crowds with his resonating country voice, Jon-Rae’s cathartic, soul-stirring live show has helped build an ever growing following. Jon-Rae has recorded and released a number of stellar albums over the years, both as a solo artist and with full bands consisting of numerous talented friends from across Canada.

Recently released album “Oh Maria” is another example that Canada is not the land of hibernation and could be akin to the dusty rural south.  There is a lot of “Canadiana” coming out lately and it is all good (see The Deep Dark Woods only a few posts ago).

The story behind “Oh Maria” seems like an unfortunate series of experiences that led to JR recording the story.  There has been struggle that JR has worked through on his journey – both across Canada in life and in creating this album.  The presentation of these 10 songs is intimate, confessional and a storyline of recent life experiences that he/or his character on the album overcomes.  Like many before him, life teaches and shows you its ups and downs, and this album is all about that.

The sound of the album is essentially a gospel country album at heart.  There is many influences from soul, jazz, Americana wrapped up in a singer songwriter package.  The use of horns in this album alone is worth mentioning – powerful, yet tragic sounding at the same time, gorgeous stuff.

Enjoy a few tracks from the album below that was recently released February 3rd, 2009 on Weewerk Records out of Toronto.  He is in good company there with Great Lake Swimmers, Barzin and Elliott Brood to mention a few.  The songs below show you two of the stand out tracks in “Oh, Maria” and “Downtown”, with the piano laded swing time that is “My Hands” included for good measure!

Visit Jon-Rae Fletcher on his Website and MySpace Page.

Jon-Rae Fletcher
“Downtown” (mp3)
“My Hands” (mp3)
“Oh, Maria” (mp3)
from “Oh Maria”
(Weewerk)

More On This Album

~Smansmith

I’m going to start off this year with an interview from a band I wrote about here last year, The Sumner Brothers. Last year I wrote about In The Garage a week or two before the release of their self-titled album. Although the latter album has some of the tracks from the afore mentioned In The Garage, Pain, Both back and My Words being three, apart from a couple of A.P Carter tracks and an old traditional song called Yeah Blue, they have taken away the covers their music has obvious nods towards and have added more of their own compositions, Say You’ll always be mine and Two Hands being two but an obvious stand out track being Ticket to ride, A song I could imagine the late Johnny Cash singing on his last album just before he sadly died.

As i’ve said in the past I just love the honesty these guys show in their songwriting and that’s all backed up by the emotion you can hear in their voices. With another release to come in 2009 this band I’m sure are going to mature into one of the best country/folk/roots bands around, If they are not already.

So, If you have received a cdbaby voucher for Christmas or you are taking back a cd you already have, You will not go far wrong by picking up this album, infact why not buy both at the same time and play them back to back while you read through this interview that Brian has kindly granted YCD?

YCD – You’ve now released In the garage and your self-titled album,  How
were they received?

SB – they were both well received……we were a little surprised that our
first album “in the garage” was as well received as it was……. we
recorded that one in our garage with an 8 track and an assortment of
old beat up 58’s ……. we plan on making a string of “in the garage”
albums but i doubt they will ever sound like that one.

YCD – You seem very much in touch with the traditions of country music,
is this the kind of music you grew up with?

SB – not exactly……we’re suburban kids …we ended up listening to
everything……literally …hip-hop, rock, blues, jazz, classical,
..you name it…….we really took to country music when Johnny Cash
started making his “American” recordings…..i think we adopted
country music for ourselves because of the simplicity of it…….we
liked the idea that you could write a song in the afternoon and
perform it that night……when it was still fresh….and that country
music is a lyrics first form…..since then we’ve met a ton of people
performing this kinda music and really started to learn the history of
it from the inside out…..from the storytellers themselves.

YCD – What do you think you would be doing if you weren’t making music?

SB – working a day job and trying to start a business…..i’ve had a couple
ideas over the years……but music takes all my time now……and i’m
happy with that

YCD – When a journalist told Townes Van Zandt that his songs were sad his
reply was that although some were, most were full of hopelessness. I
get the same feeling when listening to some of your songs like Pain or
Both Back, the latter I know is about wanting your grandfathers back
with you. Writing that, was it some kind of healing process?

SB – no…..it’s hard to explain …i’ve never found writing to help with
the healing process…..if anything ..eveytime i perform these songs
it hurts…..so it’s kinda like digging at old wounds….but the only
other option is to forget entirely and that doesn’t seem right
either…..my best friend passed away about a year ago and i never
wrote about it…….it wouldn’t help me to heal…..i’m better off
just not thinking about it.

there’s a difference between Townes outlook in his songs and ours.
Townes was depressed……and his sense of hopelessness came from there
My Brother and I love life……and despise death……and that is
where our sense of hopelessness comes from

YCD – Ok, first non- musical question. What did you think last time you
looked in the mirror?

SB - can’t remember ……something along the lines of ..women are %&^$%$^ nuts

YCD – If there is one song you could steal and claim it as your own for
ever which one would you choose and why?

SB – o holy night
it’s that time of year and that’s my favorite Christmas
song…….imagine the competition?

YCD – Given the amount of emotion and honesty in your music, is it
important to you that you write songs separately as I notice there
doesn’t seem to be any co-written tracks on either album?

SB -I think it would be difficult. …..we both want to say what we want
to say when we want to say it….we’re both stubborn and wouldn’t take
to well to someone telling us it doesn’t sound right….or it might be
offensive….etc. besides…………..
we spend so much time together working on the business of the band
….arranging songs and rehearsing…..drinking on weekends…. that i
think we’d be stretching it trying to put the time into trying to

write songs together….eventually………it’d be fun to try

YCD – What’s your best musical experience so far and why?

SB – We played a show in Portland a couple years back …..we were setting
up and couldn’t get the p.a. to work properly ….it started squealing
like mad and randomly….people were getting angry…shouting things
and eventually leaving…….we decided to forgo the p.a. and busk the
room……we just yelled out the tunes……it was a big room but my
brother and i have  loud voices …….by the time we had finished
everyone had come back from the adjacent room……i think everyone
got a kick out of it.

in reality it’s probably just drinking baileys and coffee then moving
on to beer …..working on new songs in the garage with my brother
i never get tired of it

YCD – What’s currently rocking your stereo?

SB - Phil Saylor Wisor – “Since Jimmy Died”
we’ve toured with Phil a couple times
he plays with the same conviction and passion whether he’s playing for
2 people or a hundred.

YCD -  You seem like a very close family unit, have you ever written a
song about each other, either privately or openly?

SB – can’t speak for my brother …..i haven’t ……it could be
dangerous….we’re both too honest…..and we both have faults

YCD – Another silly one now. If you could play any part in any movie
past or present who or what would it be and why?

SB – you should have asked me “if i had to”. …….i wouldn’t want any
part of any movie…..acting is hard work…i’ve had one
experience…….i remember being an extra once when i was a
kid…..it was a rain scene……the only way rain shows up on camera
apparently is if it’s raining un-realistically hard…….and
cold?……but everyone had to be dry at the beginning of the scene
and soaking wet at the end of the scene…. we had to change our
clothes everytime they had to re- shoot it ….they shot it all day
….for like 8 hours….it was torture.

YCD – What are your hopes and fears for you in the future, musically?

SB – I want to be able to play music and raise a family
that’s it. My fear would be that i wouldn’t be able to do that…..we’ve been
told that it’s almost impossible…. we don’t believe it.

YCD -There is a video on your myspace page of a song called I don’t care if there’s a
heaven which when I first heard I cried. It’s not on either album, any
particular reason for that?

SB – that song is almost universally misinterpreted………most people
think it’s an anti-war song……or an anti-american song….or
something along those lines…….it’s not…….the song is about a
very specific situation…..something that actually happened …..that
song.. for me takes place in a vacuum….i wasn’t trying to comment on
the bigger picture ..i wasn’t taking any of that into
account……….having said all that……..my brother and i have
hundreds of songs….when we go to make an album we record tons of
them….then we see which ones are working ……and which ones are
working in the context of the album…..i’m sure we will release it in
one form or another eventually

YCD – And Finally, what’s your plans for this year?

SB – we’re working on a new album……..we’re more than excited about
it……we holed up in a cabin for this one like we did for the
last……so it’s got that sound…. that intangible which really
helps to tie an album together…….i don’t think you can record the
sound of late nights…..booze….friendship……loneliness
etc……without actually being there……not that this is the only
way to record an album ….we’re just happy with it for now.

Thankyou very much for granting YCD this interview and we all wish you all success for 2009 and many years beyond.

As you can already grab Pain from my first post here, with their permission I am just uploading one track here, Just go buy the fucking album here will you’s, these guys are trying to make a living here !!

“Music with spirit. Music akin to roots, folk, blues, and country, Don Brownrigg is a musician’s musician…”

I’d like to take credit for finding this little gem but it was my lovely friend Chad from Canada that sent me this album along with a few others several weeks ago. We both have a love for music and more so a love of finding new talent that we can share with each other. I had Don’s album on my list of “albums to review” and never got around to it. I could kick myself now for not pushing play any sooner. This album is absolutely beautiful. It is a perfect melting pot of folk, blues, and country. He has a voice that stays with you long after the last tune has been sung. Needless to say he had me at the first chord. Thanks Chad and thank you Don for taking the time to do this little interview with us. I asked Don what song he would like for us to share with everyone and he said for me to choose…..ah the daunting task…they are all so good and I have my favorites but don’t just take my word for it, buy the album. (I’m having trouble uploading a song, will post it up later)

YCD: I was reading in your bio a quote that you are “inspired by people and natural things” and that you feel you are “living a generation or two too late”, is that still how you feel today?

Don: Yep, probably even more so! I’ve met a lot more people and have seen a lot more places since that first interview. I like the intimacy of simplicity.

YCD: Do you write your own music? What inspired the song “About Her”? When I first heard this song my heart skipped a beat. I wondered if anyone would ever feel this way about me. It’s truly a beautiful song.

Don: Thanks!
Yes, I write my own music. ‘About Her’ is an old song of mine. It was one of those songs that ‘wrote itself’. It just uses simple phrasing and chord progressions – but that’s all you need to get the right point across – if you are conveying the right mood and saying the right words. The song has connected with a few people on a different level and for that I’m very fortunate.

YCD: I always tell people I have an “A” job and a “Dream” life. Sometimes I feel that we are all in search of that thing that truly makes us happy and fulfilled. Would you say that music is your “dream” life? If you weren’t a song writer what would you be doing now?

Don: I am living my dream as my career. In a lot of ways, it is work and a job like any other – but there is not enough time in the day when you live your career. I’ve worked lots of jobs but that’s behind now. I’m lucky that I’ve discovered this thing that I can put all of my energy into and I can’t wait to wake up in the morning to work on it. I’d like for everyone to find that thing in their life. It’s tough. Discovery of that one thing in your life means you must take risks and just go for some things….step into the uncomfortable and un-ordinary, something you want to try, something different you need to do, etc. I hope more people do that. If I weren’t a song writer, I’d probably be something really practical, like a chiropractor or a carpenter.

YCD: What songs are you inspired by or cannot live without at the moment, yours or someone else’s?

Don: I am living in a city (Halifax) that’s known throughout the country as being a musical hotbed. I’m fortunate enough to be a part of this thriving community and I am inspired by the talent, vigor, and hard work of the musicians here. I’ve gotten to work on albums by Benn Ross, Rich Aucoin, Jesse Dangerously, Caledonia, and Tanya Davis. Each one of those acts aren’t anything like each other and aren’t similar to my music and that’s what makes this community beautiful and healthy. The support system rather than any sort of competition in independent music allows a person to be so comfortable in what they’re doing because they have such a support system in their colleagues – we know we have our friends there to help out in any way, be it professionally or personally.

YCD: Who has been the biggest influence in your musical career?

Don: Tough question. I’ve always been a very practical person so when I was getting more and more serious about music as a career, my parents could have been more weary but they weren’t at all. They urged me to follow through with this music thing – to do what I wanted – to work hard – to see how it goes, at least. In the early stages, I wasn’t really telling people who knew me that I was playing music, that it was my dream, that I needed it. Their support from the get-go meant a lot.

Also, a little dark and morbid as it may seem. I’ve had a few people in my life die well before their supposed ‘time’. Also, I’ve never thought I was to live very long and I’ve always had this dream to make music. So I guess having those people’s time end so quickly propelled me in a certain way. Make my time count for me, ‘go for it’, why not?

YCD: With all the changes and uncertainties going on in the music industry today, what inspires you to keep doing what you’re doing and why?

Don: I’m not sure. It is tough and a struggle in a lot of ways. Songwriters love and need the drama, don’t we? Like I mentioned earlier, if you’re living your dream as your career, a lot of the tough times can be absorbed easily. There are incredible highs and stifling lows. Each step is uncertain but once you’re confident the music you’re making is establishing a connection, it is worth it. The community of professional musicians I’ve surrounded myself with inspire me to continue. Fans inspire me to continue.

YCD: Wander Songs was released in 2007, is there anything new you are working on now?

Don: Yep, I’m still writing for another short while. In early 2009, I’ll start organizing for recording again. It’s a big process but I’m soon ready again. For now, I’m glad to be jumping in on other acts’ recording projects and shows when I can. I started off as a side-guy so I still have that. I also love to sing back-up and I’m doing more and more of that, on a more behind the scenes/supportive level. I need to support those people as they are supporting me.

YCD: For those readers who haven’t heard of you or your music before what would best describe your music?

Don: Organic, low-key, and created by one young unconfident fellow with a few good friends.

YCD: Thank you for your time. We are looking forward to sharing your music with everyone. I love your album it has such a timeless feel to it. I’m sure it will quickly become a favorite of our readers.

Don: Thanks a ton for having me!

Buy CD Baby
Official Website
MySpace
Sonicbids

I’ve just discovered Tim Grimm with the release of ‘Holding Up the World’ his fifth solo album, and I’m trying to slowly rewound  his discography as I’m so enthusiast about his last collection. Tim Grimm defines himself as a singer songwriter, actor and hay farmer – it’ sometimes peaceful to learn that people are doing more than a single stuff…

While reading his bio, I guess, most of you already know this talented Indiana farmer who released this year the best possible album in the traditional folk genre. As usual, when an album is perfect from start to end,  here’s the intro track.

Artist : Tim Grimm
Label : Wind River Records / Corazong Records
Where to buy : cdbaby.com / itunes
Who else to enjoy ? Sam Baker to name a single one.

Welcome to Adamzwig.com where you can find out about everything going on in the world of Zwig — psychology, research, spirituality and music.
Adam Zwig, Ph.D. is a psychotherapist, clinical director, international workshop leader and author, as well as a nationally recognized singer/song writer and recording artist, touring musician, and record producer.
Thanks for visiting !

So here’s what you can read on the front door of AdamZwig.com website.  Well, the Psychotherapist and clinical director labels, frightened me first… but my curiosity once again overcome my scepticism (do I need a therapy? ) and  I’ve decided to cross the door couple months ago…

And I’m fine. I didn’t get time to seek for other sources of information about Mr Zwig but his last.fm stats are so low : mere 85 tracks have been scrobbled from 14 listeners. As I’m counting 60 plays, you can imagine…. OK I might be a geek, in the world of Adam Zwig listeners, but his music deserves to reach a wider audience… First, because it’s more than addictive : a clashing mix of country folk rock with a modern electronic input. Then because this Seatle songwriter is far to be a beginner : Adam Zwig has been the frontman of the Shapeshifter band from 1997 to 2002 and he’s solo carrier has already produced 3 full-lengths and a live !

So, You’ll have the opportunity to visit the psychology and spirituality section as the ‘crazy wisdom’ one…, I’ve spent most of my time on the music part of the site, and  all I can express is my complete approval to the cdbaby teaser :

Highly Recommended. Seattle Musician said, “this is Zwig’s masterpiece, a compelling combination of pedal steel guitar influenced country folk rock and the lyrical politics of love and social justice”.

So If it’s the first time you’ve heard about him, listen to these two following intro tracks, knock the door of his website, then a good start will be buying ‘Cast Iron Letters’. Do think thanking me if you have the occasion to visit us back.

About the Song Michael Vaughn :
“Michael Vaughn died in the Iraq war.  I wrote the song a year before he died, not knowing he actually existed. His name came to me in a dream.  I was shocked to see a billboard that said, “In Memory of a Fallen Hero, Michael Vaughn.”  In the song, I wanted to personalize the war and ask who takes responsiblity for the fates of these young men and women.” — Adam Zwig

As reported on his website : “In 2008 / 2009, Zwig is finishing three new albums to be released one at a time. Working with grammy winning producer, Stuart Sikes (Loretta Lynn, White Stripes, Modest Mouse), Zwig’s new material continues to travel thoughtfully through the social and spiritual worlds, and to expand his expression as both a singer-songwriter and a bluesman. The albums are set for 2009 and 2010 release on Conscious Records“.

Artist : Adam Zwig
Label : Conscious Records
Where to buy : cdbaby.com
Who else to enjoy ?  that’s a good damn question… well something between Lou Reed, The Red Hot Chili Peppers and Bob Dylan ! Huh ? Your turn to help !

Outside temperature are painfully reaching the 10° (celsius) in the afternoon, starting from a low 4° in the morning : an overlook on a yearly calendar.. here we are : winter knocking at the door ! So it’s been a busy time… many stuff to deal with, preparing everybody before the first snow falls…

Excuses. These are only excuses for posting a so short article about an artist who had released about 7 albums ! But excuses as a transition : before hibernation, I need  WARM music to enjoy along a peaceful sitting by the wood-stoven light ! And Forest Sun is the one that match my quest.

Teased by Sean Hayes appearance on the song ‘Queen Anne’s Lace’, I’ve bought  ‘Harlequin Goodnight’ on cdbaby.com earlier this summer and the full album is still shining. And I bet the Californian songwriter will be a long-term company during these coming months as  his previous releases are on my never-ending-wish-list…

Artist : Forest Sun
Label : Painted Sun Records
Where to buy : cdbaby.com
More appetizers : @myspace
Who else should you enjoy ? John Craigie, Sean Hayes, Alex Goldfarb

Autumn has come to soon ? I’ve got a solution… a one album-trip to Australia. It’s been a while, since ‘To The Dogs or Whoever‘ blog has stopped bringing me its regular dose of Australian music, that  I didn’t receive any input from the land down-under.
A moon on an album cover ; nothing more, nothing else, I was a click away to discover the most brilliant EP this year hold so far.  Phillip Bracken is a young – at least in music, so few information is available about him on the net – a young singer from New South Wales.
Beyond the first calm acoustic tags emerging on a primary listening, this short (i’m just eagerly awaiting for a full length) but intense 5 tracks collection revealed a powerful and hypnotic songwriting.  For sure, Phillip’s brilliant and unique vocal is a major instrument in this beauiful delivering. I’m also totally seduced by the beauty of his compositions : simple – pure – and perfectly arranged.
With songs format which are mostly exceeding the standard, this album is an invitation for a peaceful break… and so residing one of its prowess : peaceful and contemplative but you’ll be surprised murmuring on ‘The Boy and the Sickle’ and ‘Ishmael’ is simply irresistible for your hands to be clapped, foot-taping later – even dancing for sure !  Mesmerizing.
If you need comparisons, the likes of Ben Harper, Nick Drake, Doug Burr or Josh Garrels (for both evocative guitars and warm voice) could be cited. But be sure, you will find none of those afore mentioned listening to Phillip Bracken ; none of those, but a highly dose of unique emotions. Soon to be yours !

For a debut, it’s a monument ! Such a major act won’t be unpunished ; my curisoty, once again, pushed me to contact Phillip for an interview : an opportunity to discover this promising talent. Enjoy his music while reading his anwsers.

YCD : Hello Phillip, how’s it going down-under ?
Phillip Bracken : Really well. I’ve been living in a small coastal town for the last few months and I really like the energy here.

YCD : Before asking any further question, One is teasing my curisity : Tranquil Dwarf, what does it mean ?
Phillip Bracken : It was going to be a moniker until I decided that my own name was good enough. To abbreviate the story the name came from a t.v show. I adjusted it to give it more irony and I guess for something for me to hide behind as well.

YCD : Would you mind telling us your story about music ?
Phillip Bracken : I think we all have something we’re passionate about and that we feel a connection with. Music has always been the companion that accepts and understands all my moods. I’ve always enjoyed singing and writing as separate elements but I didn’t start taking guitar more seriously until a few years ago.

YCD : ‘Everything Looks Better in Candlelight’ is your first release. How did you finally decide to merge your songs into this dense collection and bring it to an audience ?
Phillip Bracken : I wanted something to help myself be heard, remembered after gigs but something more complete than a demo. I was introduced to an amazing musician named Peter Northcote who gave me a nudge. Initially I wanted to record more songs but Pete and a couple of others told me to be patient and just put out five. We recorded the ep in his studio.

YCD : I have played ‘The Boy and Sickle’ at least a hundred times in these last 15 days… what’s your recipe for creating such a flowing song ?
Phillip Bracken : That’s so great to hear. I’m not sure that I have a recipe or set method in the way I write. Sometimes the lyrics come first and at others it’s the music which was the scenario for this song. Finger-picking is also something that feels natural to me.

YCD : Suppose, that you have been condemned to spend a full year on an isolated island. Allowing to bring with you a single object which would you choose : a book or you guitar ?
Phillip Bracken : Tough one. Probably a book and I would create an instrument out of coconuts and banana leaves.

YCD : Is there a song you wish you had written ?
Phillip Bracken : I like the idea of going largely unnoticed and developing an underground following so something like Sugarman by Rodriguez.

YCD : If you could share a stage with any band or artist who would you choose and why ?
Phillip Bracken : Sigur Ros. I saw them play recently and they were completely absorbing as much to the eye as ear. They looked totally lost in their instruments and came across as quite humble and unassuming.

YCD : Any other projects for the coming months, a first full length ?
Phillip Bracken : I’m launching my ep in November in Sydney. Other than that I want to play more gigs and improve myself musically. I’d like to do a full-length at some point but it might still be a little way a way.

Artist : Phillip Bracken
Label : unsigned
Where to buy : cdbaby.com
More appetizers : @myspace.com

I first briefly mentioned The Sumner brothers when I wrote about The Wood brothers on this blog here. From British Columbia they have just released their first album In the garage available here which they kindly sent me last week. A band that really wear their hearts on their sleeve especially on the track both back, a song about wanting his late father back in his life but also on the track Pain where the first line “better look over what I got cause it won’t last long” makes you immediately stop and listen. It’s not all doom and gloom though as they start off the album with a banjo led cover of a Stompin Tom Connors track called Luke’s guitar then straight into Girl in the window which is a footstomping folk blues track with Bob Sumner screaming the vocals. They have you smiling and singing along one minute then break your heart the next. Like The Felice Brothers before them I get the feeling a lot of these tracks are just one take with any mistakes just left in giving the whole album a really genuine organic feel to it. Throw in another four covers, A storming version of Johnny Cash’s Folsom prison blues, a live version of Dylan’s I was young when I left home, the folk gospel Carter family song The rock where Moses stood and my personal favourite, Sleepy John Estes‘ Good place to go, now that’s the blues. Somehow you just pick up that these guys are the genuine article, no bullshit, just straight up rootsy country/folk/footstomping blues at it’s raw organic best.

R.C Joseph wrote the following about them.

“Their music is about light, though it is not afraid to explore the dark. Their music is about hope, but it does not ignore the despair. It’s a mournful Johnny Cash, a repentant Willie Nelson, a reflective Stompin Tom. It’s the power of boozy sincerity and hopped-up honesty, and that, brothers and sisters, I can get behind”

I think I can too.

Sam Corbin with Jen Sygit at Scene Metrospace – East Lansing, MI

It’s been a long time that I didn’t introduce any artist from Michigan : Sam Corbin is the one we’re going to listen tonight. Do you remember The Stranglers ? Hum… I’m a fan. From the unforgettable 96 tears with the ‘Too many tear drops for one heart to be crying… ‘ to ‘La Folie’ through beautiful melodies suchs as Northwind blowing, the unsane ‘Let Me introduce you to my Family’, the famous ‘Always the sun’ – well I’m not here, at least not today, to drive you back in the 80s Stranglers glorious… – and also my favorite ‘Golden Brown’.

And here’s the point. While I was crawling deeply the web, I took a long deep and peaceful pause as soon as I’ve been caught by this song’s title  ‘Golden Brown‘ : It was a month ago, on Sam Corbin’s myspace playlist the last track.  How to resist giving a try : who dare covering such a gem ? Sam’s version is far from the Barrel Organ sounds of the Stranglers… but with an amazing finger-picking style he released a prowess delivering a sweet acoustic version of this untouchable song !

I was a click-away from a superb album : Goodnight Candlelight. The opening banjo-driven ‘Twenty three’, the  ‘Masterpiece’ – which needs no other adjective – , ‘Dictator’ … Theses 3 intro songs are absolutely fantastic and so many albums will never reach this density…  Including the ‘Golden Brown’ cover, the 6 other tracks, of this 10 (hum everything is fine Mr Alzheimer ! count on the hidden track  ) songs collection are all deserving at least my 4 stars rating and an absolute 5 stars for the instrumental ‘Nothing to say’ !

Sam released his first full-length album “Goodnight Candlelight” in 2006, choosing a minimalist approach of mostly acoustic guitar and vocals. He recorded the album in his basement near Lansing, MI, with help from singer/songwriter Jen Sygit adding hints of Banjo, Uke, and vocal harmonies. In the fall of 2008 Sam will release his second full-length album, bringing to the lineup some of Michigan’s finest musicians! …
… In 2008 Sam teamed up with percussionist Billy Harrington. Playing on a single snare drum, Billy brought a whole new sound to the equation. Together, their songs travel from a soft whisper, to the rumbling drive of a freight train.

I didn’t get time to contact Sam in time (!!!), so I can’t confirm that the  track ‘Kalamazoo‘ will appear on his sophomore -haha  learning slowly… – album but if it’s a cover (shame on me for this lack of information) or a song of his own : it’s a ‘cracker’ !!! But no matter, Goodnight Candlelight could loop for a full year and more !

Artist : Sam Corbin
Label : none as usual
Where to buy : cdbaby.com as usual
More appetizers : @myspace …

Since the release of Ray LaMontagne first single ‘You’re the best thing‘  from his forthcoming album ‘Gossip in the Grain’,  and some early reviews ; discussions on the ‘Acre of Land‘ message board about his new style are impassioned. Maybe due to close voices, I’ve always drawn a parallel between RayLaMontagne and Kreg Viesselman ; at least in their early releases. If the first seems to enlarge his musical horizon, the second seems to keep digging the same furrow, and time is almost there for an upcoming collect of demos for his new album : as usual with this American songwriter, absolutely gorgeous !

I’ve discovered Minnesota native Kreg Viesselman, and now Oslo resident, with the release of his 2 years-old last album : ‘The Pull’. It’s a wonderful collection of Americana tunes, balancing from blues to gospel. It’s a must have while awaiting for Kreg’s forthcoming album.

Artist : Kreg Viesselman
Label : Red Kite Records
Where to buy : Red Kite Records / cdbaby.com / itunes
More Appetizers : @myspace.com

I’m fully addicted to the beauty of Spain. Living couple miles on the border between France and Spain, I can feel the pulse of this country according to the wind. Throw me few acoustic accords, then turn the trumpet on and I’ll sell my soul for the closest feria. Lucho, second full length, teased me – captivated indeed- with this amazing hymn that such bands as Calexico could envied : “Mercy !”. From what I’ve heard so far, the other new tracks of the album are great balances : ones bluesy, others folk ; all unique sound that engaged me to qualify this collection as a beautiful jewel. No matter what’s your mood is looking for, you’ll find the perfect song. Oups just forget : Lucho is from London !

Band : Lucho
Label : none
Where to Buy :  right from their myspace page nowhere else. First full length and self-titled album is available from cdbaby.com or  from emusic.com (if someone want to gifted me, all my September credits are already gone !!!)

I bought myself a beautiful 1976 Pioneer pl-510a turntable very recently and my first thoughts when i bought it was ‘That deserves summat old played on it’. Ok 1976 is not that long ago but it’s still long enough and that was the main way to play music for most people back then. Having had most of my vinyl stolen one Christmas eve about fifteen years ago i wasn’t sure what to play on it as my collection is pretty sparse now . I thought about playing some of my Neil Diamond as that would fit perfectly with the date it was made but I then had a call at the door by the postman (Have you noticed how late the postmen come these days?) and he had in his hand my Serious Sam Barrett vinyl E.P which he had kindly sent me, Sam not the postman. It seemed fitting that that would be the first record i should play on my new turntable (I have since been pre-occupied wondering what the first ever song played on it was, something i will never know of course). From the first track Tongue Tied Blues and it’s sliding folk/blues railroad riff and some lovely picking asking where his sweet heart has gone I was instantly hooked. Lately I have heard nu-folk, anti-folk, Homicidal-folk (My personal favourite), metal folk and yesterday came across something called Laptop-folk, wtf? What you get with Sam is folk, Pure and simple and all the better for it if you ask me. From Addingham in Yorkshire, his father is also a folk singer and his Mother a lover of the music of Guthrie, Leadbelly and Dylan so it’s no surprise he has crafted songs in that same style. However, he also has a love of 80’s Madonna records as well as Hip hop and Reggae as you will read in the interview below which he has kindly granted us. Also with Sams kind permission he has given me a couple of Mp3’s for your downloading pleasure but please if you like it buy his E.P (Preferably on Vinyl) form the links provided or from your nearest Independant record store who will either have it or can order it for you. A rising star on the folk scene in the UK and is about to embark on a UK tour, go see him play when he visits your area, offer him and his friends a place to stay if you can as their sleeping arrangements at the moment as far as i can gather is an old battered Ford Escort. For me personally it’s so refreshing to hear music like this still being made. Some people say it’s all been done before but who says music has to progress all the time? Perhaps the most perfect music has already been made and all we need to do is keep playing it and making it in that style? Enjoy.

You can buy Sams E.P from these following links

www. outofstep. co. uk -
www. jumborecords. co. uk -
www. rhythmonline. co. uk -www. normansrecords. com -
www. clear-spot. nl (Netherlands)

YCD – Hello Sam, or shall I call you serious? How’s it going?

SSB – Alright man, thanks for asking.

YCD – Ok, might as well ask you now, promoting anything right now or recently released anything?

SSB – Yea my first record finally came out in May this year. It’s called the Yorkshire Rambler EP.

YCD – So where can we get a hold of this?

SSB – It’s being distributed by cargo so any independant record shop can get it for you if you ask nicely.

YCD – So you’re from Leeds right? Do you try and make music that reflects your landscape?

SSB – Well I’m from a village called Addingham originally which is a bit North of Leeds on the southern tip of the Yorkshire Dales. I’ve lived in Leeds for about 3 years now though. Yea, The older I get the more I try and put what it means to be from Yorkshire into my music, that is really important to me.

YCD – What are the biggest obstacles you feel a folk singer like yourself faces today?

SSB – An industry that favours the bland, dull, overproduced kind of folk music that you tend to hear nowadays. That’s what pisses me off anyway.

YCD – Ok, I don’t know if you are aware but they have recently found an old law that says all musicians since time began are allowed to take any song from anyone they like from any moment in time and claim it as their own, which one are you having then? Only one mind you.

SSB – Man that’s tough, as far as non-traditional songs go I wish I’d have written “Prove It All Night.” by Bruce Springsteen. That’s a beautiful song

YCD – What’s your guilty pleasure?

SSB – I’m not guilty about any of the music I listen to that a lot of people consider crap. I really like 80s Maddonna records.

YCD – What’s your best musical experience so far and why?

SSB – Going from Nashville to New Orleans with one of my best friends was amazing. We spent about 2 days pretty much in silence because it was such a moving experience finally being there.

YCD – Who’s currently rocking your turntable?

SSB – An old Scruggs style banjo compilation on the folkways label. A bunch of hicks on that record like the Stanley brothers and stuff. It’s ace.

YCD – What band/artist would you most like to play with?

SSB – I really like playing songs with my friends Mike Rossiter and David Broad. They inspire me more than anyone else who’s around nowadays to be honest. The only new music I really like is Hip Hop and Reggae. To me, that’s the only stuff that has the power and sincerity that old blues and folk records had.

YCD – What are your hopes and fears for you in the future, musically?

SSB – I hope to break even and keep travelling around playing songs to people. I only fear that one day I won’t be able to do that any more.

YCD – What did you think the last time you looked in the mirror?

SSB – I’m a greaseball.

YCD – You have a sound that is not dissimilar to the likes of Guthrie, Leadbelly and that depression era. Is this the kind of music you were brought up with?

SSB – Well yea, my Dad is a folk singer too and my Mum loves Woody and Dylan and Leadbelly. I’m a lucky man to have had such an amazing musical upbringing. My parents introduced me to loads of obscure folk music as a child.

YCD – And finally, are you working on anything at the moment? Tours, new albums etc?

SSB – Yup Myself, David Broad and Mike Rossiter are doing a UK tour in early November so check the myspace for the shows on that. I also have a new EP of Yorkshire songs coming out pretty soon. It’s going to be 3 traditional Yorkshire songs and also a song I wrote about growing up around here. I really wanted to make a record that is about where I’m from and the music from here so I’m really exited about it. It’s coming out on an awesome new label started by the guys who currently run Art Goes Pop called Yadig?. It’s sort of a DIY label with a folk/country/roots feel and I’m really happy to be a part of it because it looks really exiting.

YCD – Many thanks for the interview and we here at you crazy dreamers wish you all the best for the future.

SSB – Thank you for having me man, much appreciated.

It starts like a song reminding me the heighties ; a voice both delicate and dark – reminiscent of Bryan Ferry – over a rolling piano ballad. Then the darkness tone of the ending intro song turns deeper into a superb flying tune : Your Side of the Mountain… Then, an amazing and devilish cover of Dylan’s ‘Girl from the North Country’… then. Then, I’m really grateful to cdbaby.com for such a discovery, allowing me to introduce you : Wade Ogle and his first solo album : Songs from Winter.

At the age of 44, Wade Ogle, following a seven years absence, is back on the rock scene with an awesome collection of 11 tracks recorded during the winter months of 2007/2008. The former singer-guitarist of Dali Automatic, now leading a family, renewed with his unique dark songwriting. Songs from Winter album handles a collection of mature folk-blues originals with personal takes on Bob Dylan (Girl from the North Country), Fred McDowell (Got to Move), and Nick Cave (New Morning). With a series of 5 songs about outlaw Americans – including two of my favorites ‘William Bonney‘ – distilling an enchanting sound from an electric sitar and the staggering Huddie Leadbetter, we’re close to a brand new murder ballads vintage.
Once again, I couldn’t resist asking Wade couple questions about his music.

YCD : Hello Wade, how’s it going ?
Wade Ogle : All is well. It’s very beautiful here in northwest Arkansas this time of year.

YCD : It’s about 7 years, you’ve been away from the music scene ? Tell us about this break ?
Wade Ogle : I had essentially lived out of a van with 3 or 4 other guys for 13 years playing shows across the US. A struggle that really only makes sense when you’re young. After the band ended, I really wanted nothing more to do with being an “organzied” musician. Also, during this break, I married and started a family.

YCD : After many years playing in various bands (Dali Automatic, the Faith Healers…), what are the motivations for a solo record ?
Wade Ogle : I prefer to travel light these days. I had guest musicians perform as a band of sorts on the record and I may form an accompanying live band but I think my “one for all, none for one” band days are well behind me.

YCD : Songs from Winter, your new full length is a collection of old and new songs. It also contains 3 covers (Girl from the North Country – Bob Dylan / New Morning – Nick Cave / Got to Move – Fred McDowell ),. Is it a kind of synthesis in your musical background opening to a new solo career ?
Wade Ogle : I hadn’t thought of it but I think you’re right. Especially live. I think I’m stumbling upon this mix of my musical past and present. Mixing experimental music with traditional songwriting. Perhaps I just have too many effects on my pedalboard.

YCD : William Bonney, Bonnie & Clyde, Huddie Leadbetter, Robert Johnson … ? It’s a new murder’s ballads ?
Wad Ogle : Maybe. When I began writing new songs again, I wrote an entire collection about outlaw Americans. Many more than are on the record. Some were based on real characters, some were entirely fictional. I think I found it easier to get the writing ball rolling with that limitation. After that, new…more personal songs came.

YCD : As a French, I can’t resist asking you about the intro of your Bonnie & Clyde song referring to Serge Gainsbourg ?
Wad Ogle : I had written that song without incorporating the Serge intro. Live, I began to drop it in. In the end, I couldn’t do without it. So, it’s my respectful tip of the hat to Mr. Gainsbourg. You know, as much as some Europeans might romanticize what life must be like in the grand old south, it’s Serge Gainsbourg’s music which makes southerners desire a one-way ticket to Paris…never to return.

YCD : Is there a song you wish you had written ?
Wade Ogle : That’s an excellent mind reeling question. Practically any song by the filthy five who are Cohen, Dylan, Cave, Presley and Cash. Barring that, I’d say “Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You” by Frankie Valli.

YCD :If you could share a stage with any band or artist who would you choose and why?
Wade Ogle : Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds. We’re in a similar musical park which is dark blues without being blues really. Also, I don’t take up much room on a stage. Perfect support act haha.

YCD : What are your projects for the coming months ?
Wade Ogle : I know they’re are two video projects. One for “Your Side Of The Mountain” and another for “Lost All Beliefs”. Also, a remix of “Robert Johnson”. Also, I’m going to release a live solo performance (digital download). Beyond that, I’ll be playing a lot live.

YCD : Thank you so much for your time Wade. For sure, we’ll keep a pair of ears on your music !

Artist : Wade Ogle
Label : 5AM Records
Where to buy : Cdbaby.com, Itunes
If you love Nick Cave or Mark Lanegan, Wade Ogle should soon become a favorite.
You should also enjoy : Pete Ashman, Neil McSweeney and the Gents, New Pretoria.

I went and saw JJ Grey & Mofro last night in Chicago at the “Taste of Lincoln Fest” to get a little taste of some bluesy southern soul. Best $10 I ever spent (for the fest admission fee.)

I can not say enough how much I love love love LOVE these guys and god damn do they put on an amazing show. Incredible. Stunning. Gave me chills at some points they were so pee-in-your-pants-good. I saw them last year at the House of Blues but this show far surpassed that one for me by miles. I was simply enthralled the whole night. You either had to be deaf or have no rhythm to not groove and dance to JJ. I know I was shakin’ my tail feather most of the night! *shake shake*

Their album “Country Ghetto” was one of my favorites albums of last year. Definately in my top 3 of 2007. If you do not have this CD, I highly recommend that you run right out and purchase it or download it! The whole album is just fantastic.

I’ve very excited for their new release “Orange Blossoms” due out August 26th. You can pre order it: here

One of the highlight of the night was getting to hear one of their new songs off the new album called “Everything Bad is Good”. Upbeat number….I just loved it. Here is a youtube video of the new song (although not from the Chicago performance)…oooh sing it JJ!

MySpace

mofro.net

Jolie Holland’s future career shows a considerable amount of promise.

She blends together a mix of folk, jazz and blues that casts a slow, woozy spell over it’s listener. The categorization of her genre may not be as easily described as it’s effects, but its all beyond infectious. A quick listen on Thursday was quickly heightened to an all-weekend binge after finding everything she’s ever publically released.

There’s a clear progression in her music that was released over the span of just a few years–from solo singer/songwriter to beautifully accompanied songs that still stay true to their more simplistic roots. It’s a bit of an up and down adventure if your more inclined to one of her styles than another, but it’s all wonderful stuff. So dust off those red-plumed adventuring caps and let her sail around your room for an hour or two.

Josh.

After months of hunting Sam down and constantly harassing him via e-mail, I now have the interview with Sam for you all to read. Sam has been making noises in the London folk scene for quite a while now but hopefully this will be the year he breaks through to a much wider audience. In one review I read he was compared to an English version of Ray LaMontagne and although I can see why that comparison was made Sam is a much more accomplished guitar player than Ray and for me he has a completely different style, more folky and less country for one. He is an astonishing guitar player as you can see from the youtube clip I recently captured when I saw him play at the tiniest venue ever in Bom Banes in Brighton (posted). In my opinion I would draw a comparison to perhaps John Martyn for his folk style and Nick Drake or Bert Jansch for his guitar playing ability. Now i know that’s high praise especially when just about every new english finger picking folk singer comes along is compared with Drake  but he really is that good, he plays the guitar like he and it are one but all done in such an effortless way, it’s a joy to watch. When you hear Sam’s voice live it takes you slightly by surprise, I feel he let’s it rip a lot more than he does on his album and I guess this may be where some reviewers get the Ray LaMontagne connection, still i would love to hear him really belt a few songs out on his album just to show his vocal range which is clear he has when you hear him play live, again it’s astonishing and a joy to listen to. He is due to release a new album Far from you in the very near future and of course I will keep you all updated on any news of that. Has a few dates coming up but one special one is the Union Chapel in London on 7Th June which if you have never experienced a concert there is a must see, breath taking acoustics which will suit Sam and his music perfectly, a ‘must go to’ gig.

In the meantime here is the interview that Sam was forced kindly agreed to do for us along with a couple of mp3’s that he has allowed for YCD to post. Please support this independent artist, he’s a superb talent who i think is on the brink of greatness. If you don’t believe me go and see him live, you will not forget it. Enjoy

YCD – So firstly, could you please tell us who you are and where you are from?

Sam - My name is Sam but my full name is Samuel James Beer, I think that sounds rather grand but everyone calls me Sam so Samuel has never really stuck, Actually people only called me Samuel when they were cross with me.

I have moved around quite a lot in my life as my dad’s work took my family to several places, my first years were spent in Spain although I was born in London. In the end I came back to London to go to Art School and I have been here ever since.

YCD – Ok, might as well ask you now, promoting anything right now or recently released anything?

SAM - I will be bringing out my first album in a couple of months called Far From You. With out sounding over confident I think it is going to be the best and most true thing I have made to date. I am in the middle of recording it and its going really well. I really respect and admire the players I am playing with on the record and I’m recording it in a great studio so its going to be something special when its finished. I’m really enjoying the process and am happy about what I’m doning…

YCD – So where can we get a hold of this?

SAM - You will be able to get the EP through my myspace page and through Itunes ect but we are in discussion with labels and distributers so it should be available all over, I can\t say any more than that at this stage.

YCD – You recently played the Union chapel in London, how did that go?

SAM - I would say it went really well! I have wanted to play there ever since I saw a gig there a few years ago. It is a wonderfully atmospheric place to play and I was lucky enough to play for a very good audience, people really got it and that made it all come alive.

YCD – What are the biggest obstacles you feel a singer/song writer faces today?

SAM - That is a tricky one for any musician and there are a lot of obstacles. It all depends on what you want and where you want to go.

You are only as good as your next song and that can be the biggest obstacle. Most of the barriers are in your own head and for one reason or another I think musicians have an internal struggle that is lifelong and that is the journey to become the best you can be.

YCD – Ok, I don’t know if you are aware but they have recently found an old law that says all musicians since time began are allowed to take any song from anyone they like from any moment in time and claim it as their own, Which one are you having then?

SAM - That answer changes on a daily basis and this one is really difficult. I feel like I am having to save one puppy from a house fire and watch the others cook, do I only have one song shit!

(TWO CUPS OF TEA LATER)

Grant Spivey (Live) by Victoria Spivey.

I heard this song on a compilation CD when I was coming back from a show in Exeter and it completely transported me. I was on a busy train and I think I was moving a bit and really getting into the song I got some odd looks from people around me as I was probably looking a bit special (if you know what I mean). That song devastates me every time I hear it. She sings about her father (Grant) and the song has so much movement and feeling. She is rough around the edges and completely natural.

I would never be able to play that song. If any of my songs come close ill sleep well at night.

There are so many other songs I could have picked for so many reasons

YCD – What’s your guilty pleasure?

SAM - Instruments! They are my heroin as it were.. I love old instruments and am lucky enough to say I own a couple of beauties. Old guitars that have been played a lot in my opinion have something very powerful within them. I could go on and on

YCD – What’s your best musical experience so far and why?

SAM - Again that’s difficult. When ever I truly connect with another musician that is something very special and moving for me. When I connect with a player it feels like we are talking and exchanging something highly personal and open. When ever that happens I am knocked over and I remember why I am doing this. I feel the same when the audience really gets it.

YCD – who’s currently rocking your stereo?

SAM -Quite a lot of story tapes

YCD – What band/artist would you most like to play with?

SAM - Neil Young, Danny Thompson (Double Bass), David Rawlings (Gillian Welsch’s guitar player), Tom Waitts, Joni Mitchell Nina Simone, I would be terrified to play with all of them and would probably make a tit of myself. But their all just people, they all have mothers.

YCD – What are your hopes and fears for you in the future, musically?

SAM - I fear my guitar will go out of tune and I won’t be able to write any more songs

I hope my guitar stays in tune and that I do too.

Many thanks for the interview and we here at you crazy dreamers wish you all the best for the future.

Being one of five boys in my family i’m seriously thinking of getting us all together and forming a band because at the moment any band made up of such siblings seems guaranteed success. We have the Felice brothers, The sumner, The deadstring,  Avett and now The Wood brothers. From what i can gather they are originally from Colorado but they went their seperate ways to try and forge a career in the ruthless music world. Some of you may have heard of Chris wood as he’s the bass player in Medeski, Martin and Wood. They released Ways not to lose in March 2006 and they have now just released loaded. Loaded may not be as rustic as the afore mentiond ways not to lose but it’s still down to earth enough with guest vocals from the likes of Amos lee, Pieta Brown (daughter of Greg incase you didn’t know) and is produced by John Medeski from MMW. What we have is country/folk/blues played extremely well by two brothers who clearly love playing together. Some comparisons have been made with Van Morrison but I also hear traces of the rather elusive Sanders Bohlke as well as Amos. Loaded comes with three cover versions, the tradional song ‘Make me down a pallet on your floor’, A pretty good version of Dylan’s ‘Buckets of rain’ and Jimi hendrixs’ ‘Angel’ with Amos lee. Currently on a pretty big U.S tour and from various reviews are meant to be a storming live act.  It could be a great year for the Wood brothers.

As beautiful as an early L. Cohen, as powerful as a ‘Boatman‘ Nick Cave, I’m a bit late diving deeply in Songbones…

This Man deserves a book, i’ll try to get an interview …

Artist : Grayson Capps
Label : Hyena Records
Where to dive : Hyena Records, Amazon, Emusic

His previous album : Taking Up Serpents Again, has been critically acclaimed. Why ? Curtis Eller is billed as the world’s angriest banjo player/yodeler… And for sure, back in 2004, no one expected such an intense collection of compositions from a guy “who started his show-business career at the age of seven as a juggler and acrobat in the Hiller Olde Tyme Circus in Detroit”.

If you missed this album, be sure to be around by March 25th, Curtis Eller will released his third full length : ‘Wirewalkers & Assassins‘.

Artist : Curtis Eller
Label : American Circus Record.
Where to buy : cdbaby.com

Few artists have the talent to attract your attention at the first note of an album and catch it till the very end. Scotish multi-instrumentalist (piano, guitar, saxophone), Grant Campbell has achieved this songwriting prowess releasing his second album last year : Beyond Below.
Campbell’s gravely voice is openning ‘Bowery Beat’ as a first measure to an exceptional collection of 14 powerful & soulful tracks. From Townes Van Zandt to Bruce Springsteen, or from L. Cohen to B. Dylan, the Glasgow songwriter’s music navigates through differents genres (americana, folk, country and blues) and tempos (lullabies, ballads to almost steady-rock).

I’m still embarrassed to select the right track for streaming with such a good album, where each track reaches the quality of the previous… I’ve finally found the solution : Track One – Bowery Beat.

 Bowery Beat – Grant Campbell [3:10m]:Play Now

Couple songs are available on his myspace page and bebo.com is hosting also some tracks from his previous release : ‘Postcard From Nowhere’. I’m still awaiting for the delivery of this album… But from what I’ve already heard and read, sure this is a collector too !

Artist : Grant Campbell
Label : Crooked Mouth
Where to Buy : Artist website – cdbaby.com or itunes*

* Prefer buying your mp3s @ cdbaby.com… those are encoded at a higher rate and you won’t have to deal with this damned protection !

Californian songwriter John Craigie will be live next week February the 12th @ Hotel Utah – San Francisco, for the release of his 5th full length album : Soft Hail.

5th album… I’ve just bought “Picnic on 405″ last week, his 2007 fourth release. And I’m still starving : you know that my appetite for that kind of music is simply insatiable ! Prolific and young, and talented. I won’t tell you that his previous albums are as good as Picnic – I simply can’t afford for the moment to buy his complete discography ! But each of my 13 bucks, buying this album, were immediatly multiply to the value of millions for each of the songs it handles !

For all of you crazy readers that are already addicted to John Craigie’s delicious acoustic mixture of blues and folk, please be sure to leave us a comment about his previous releases. For the others, find below two tracks. The first one from the album I owned and a second one from his coming one. – count on me for positing here a detailed review about ‘Soft Hail’ ! In the meantime, please, send us a feedback from the show.

Artist : John Craigie
Label : none
Where to buy : Cdbaby.com

I bought the Dana Gross album pirate love longs just before Christmas and I have been listening to it a lot since. He’s from Portland, Maine where he is starting to get recognised in the folk scene there. Apart from on kick the chunk where he uses a banjo, with just an acoustic guitar, harmonica and his rather unique voice Dana writes beautiful folk songs about love, heartbreak and hardship. For me he reminds me a lot of Townes Van zandt especially on the song crooks, heartthread and pirates but also some delta blues influenced sounds on sumac and gypsies. Some great songwriting on here too most notably on came & went and paradise. This is an extremely solid debut solo album from the beautiful opening track came & went to the closing track praying to the moon with some great guitar picking throughout and I think it’s an album that once you hear will come back to time and time again and completely love, just like i have.

Had I been able to review this album in 2007 it would have been in my top 10 albums of last year, I think it’s that good, but as it wasn’t released until i believe the 18th December will put intoo my 2008 list.

John McCauley is gifted with this huge story-teller talent, that could bring you on the opposite side of the world playing the same tune. A delicious mix of blues and country highlighted with a distinct nasal accent coming out from what could be described as a long term smoky/drunken voice – John you’re too young !! Volupté, we deserve my friends – Pleasure, Deer Tick will give us !

Even if I have to admit that the band’s name are far to be attractive – a good friend of mine is fighting against lyme disease each day and we’re infested half the year in the pyrenees by those parasites. My curiosity finally won over my poor froggy sense of humor – it’s so good to be French sometimes – and it has been once again fully rewarded…

Artist : Deer Tick
Label : Feow Records
Where to buy : Emusic – Itunes

AS : “Have you heard the story of what the river gave the boat? I said “No, I haven’t”
She said “Don’t worry,” as she rolled down the window and gave the wind a smile to carry to the next car down the road. There’s still a long way to go.”

Those words are the conclusion from Mark Berube last album : What the river gave the boat : a superb collection of songs and lyrics that immediatly gave me the desire listening to his previous releases.

Once again, Canadian rules ! I’ve discovered Vancouver singer songwriter, Mark Berube sooner this year with the release of this album. Described by Kevin O’Brien as the “Nina Simone’s baritone brother”, Mark Berube is a surprising composer mixing sources as different as blues, jazz, pop, rock, creating his original style. From a lyrical Lhasa de Sella to a jazzy Tom Waits, Mark’s music is floating somewhere over the borders : piano, accordion, dobro, trumpet, acoustic guitar. From his Canadian home land, to his South African raised one, Mark’s lyrics are travels in both historical and geographical ladders.

As Mark is growing with every album, and knowing that this last release is the first of a double album – the following will be released in 2008 and be titled : What the Boat Gave The River – I have already set an alarm on this guy and hope that you’ll be part of his fans.

PS : “.. Nous reveillerons tous les rêveurs qui ont oublier la facon de rêver “ .. Those are some French lyrics from the same fabulous song ‘The Barber Shop ‘ that close this amazing album… It should mean : We’ll wake up all those dreamers that have forgotten how to dream.
PPS : Sorry for not having writing about this one sooner !

Artist : Mark Berube
Label : none
You should absolutely buy it @ cdbaby.com

Like a Mountain ‘a capella’ introduction could remind a Travis song, listen it entirely and it’s absolutely blues… with any doubt. Thousands miles up from Georgia, Canadian – once again – band, Timber Timbre played the blues. A delicate, whispering, and tormented blues that is gorgeously spilling life ! How could it be different ?

Released in February, ‘Medicinals‘ is the second full length of the Toronto band – primarily solo project for singer/songwriter Taylor Kirk, and a must have in your 2007 folk collection.

“I’m weary of accepting (blues) as my genre,” Taylor confessed to Michael Barclay, “because when I listen to blues-era recordings, it sounds to me like the purest form of musical expression. I couldn’t even tell you about any current blues musicians. I’m mostly listening to the old recordings now, like Son House, Leroy Carr and various Blind Willies.”

“Sung with a gospel-soft tenor the songs send a warm shiver down the spine as you feel comfortable enough to relax but unnerved to the point you may find it hard to turn it off“. No better words from Dave Baden to describe the addiction !

Artist : Timber Timbre
Label : Shuffling Feet Records
Buy Medicinals @ Zunior.com
You should also enjoy : Matt Jones, Otis Redding