Archive for the 'Indie' Category

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Nathaniel Rateliff & The Wheel – On Tour !

Published by Olivier on September 13, 2009 in Acoustic, Folk, Indie, On Tour, Rock, Singer Songwriter and video. 2 Comments

Nathaniel Rateliff & The Wheel

Another great artist, I ‘ve almost kept for myself all this summer long is Nathaniel Rateliff & The Wheel.

Combining the endearing swagger of Jacques Brel, the moody mysticism of Leonard Cohen and the pastoral plucking of Nick Drake, Rateliff’s potent songs and rich voice grabbed the audience by the heart and the throat.

Any other arguments ? Well, Nick Drake, Nick Drake… Anyway, I completely agree with the Jacques Brel’s parallel, and I guess most of our fellow Belgian readers will, as soon as they click the play button on this below youtube video !

I’ve been totally bewitched by this awesome song and performance… and I guess a minute after I was downloaded The Wheel first and single full length “Desire and Dissolving Men” released in 2007…
And for a mere 7 $, it’s one of the best album i’ve bought this year.

Slow - The Wheel [3:19m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Nathaniel Rateliff is on tour this september, so check his website and myspace page ! If none of his dates is close to you. Thanks in advance Daytrotter.com as The Wheel will record a session, tomorrow (Sept. 14) !!!

Artist : Nathaniel Rateliff
Where to buy : cdbaby.com
More Appetizers : myspace

Song o’ Day – Matt Epp’s “This Old House”

Published by smansmith on August 29, 2009 in Acoustic, Alt-Country, Americana, Indie, New Album Alert, Singer Songwriter and Song o Day. 1 Comment

So “Song o’ The Day” is kinda my thing around here the last few weeks. Sorry folks for the sporadic posting, life simply getting in the way for all of us!!

Well being the Canadian around these parts I always seem to be pushing my brethren, but that is because I keep being impressed by the talent from the “Great White North”. Today’s selection is Matt Epp who I also might be attached to as he is from one of my hometowns of Winnipeg, Manitoba (he’s a “pegger”). While I tended to overlook what was in my own backyard while living there, I seem to see more talent now that it is no longer underneath my own nose. Matt Epp has a new album coming out called “Safe or Free” this November and the track “This Old House” is the lead off single. It is a bit of singer-songwriter with shavings of Alt-Country adorning his duet with Eliza Gilkyson. It is also a Ryan Adams’ style ballad including a harmonica feature at midway (love that damn harmonica). Hope you like as much as I do!

“This Old House” – Matt Epp – from 2009’s “Safe of Free”

~~~

So keep an eye out for the album this November by keeping in touch below:

~Smansmith

P.S. Maybe pick up an album to listen to during your wait by clicking:

Song o’ Day – Bahamas “Already Yours”

Published by smansmith on July 25, 2009 in Folk, Indie, New Album Alert, Singer Songwriter and Song o Day. 1 Comment

Bahamas

Bahamas (or Afie Jurvanen) is a bit of a workhorse in Canadian Music. He has played with everyone, both behind the scenes on albums and on tours and everywhere else musicians find home. Well, Bahamas is bringing himself to the forefront and in good fashion as well. The new album “Pink Strat” is a collection of honest (but fun) singer-songwriter tracks with a bit of the rolling plains of Canadian prairie indie country folk. He is a guy who just seems like the real deal, he clearly has talent and sings songs within himself and with all of himself. After listening to “Pink Strat” a few times, he seems like the guy you wanna know at a party and would casually gain the focus of the crowd and end up leaving at the end of the night with the crowd as both his fans and friends. That sure seems like a lot coming from a guy who hasn’t met him… Well maybe I might have to rush the stage when he swings through Calgary with Amy Millan on October 20th during his album tour that basically starts tonight at the Hillside Festival in Guelph Ontario. Catch him if you can!

Take a listen to “Already Yours” from the new album, which incidentally was the iTunes song of the week (iTunes Canada I believe) – so good on ‘em.

“Already Yours” – Bahamas – from 2009’s “Pink Strat”

Visit Bahamas on MySpace (full tour dates) and on Nevado Records here in Canada!
Pick up a copy or find links to purchase over on Nevado HERE.

~Smansmith

Song o’ Day: “A Thousand Men” from Joe Pug

Published by smansmith on July 18, 2009 in Acoustic, Americana, Folk, Indie, Singer Songwriter and Song o Day. 1 Comment

Joe Pug kickin' back

So not exactly new news, but just can’t stop listening to that Joe Pug EP that he is offering on his website – for free!! My song of the day is the magnificent “A Thousand Men”.

The song is timeless and not so simply great, it is pug alone strumming his guitar while singing the fact that “…every good idea, kills at least a thousand men…” – and despite what you may think, the good majority of us all are still in triple digits and are not getting out without a fight.

Enjoy the track – also hit up good friend Adrian over at “I Pick My Nose” Blog for a nice live version HERE.

“A Thousand Men” – Joe Pug – from the “In The Meantime” EP

Visit Joe Pug over on & Or and

~Smansmith

Cameron McGill & What Army – Warm Songs for Cold Shoulders

Published by Trini on July 10, 2009 in Experimental / Psychedelic, Folk and Indie. 0 Comments Tags: Cameron McGill, Folk.

Let me tell you a little bit about my year, needless to say it’s been one of a lot of reflection and a relentless tug of wars between my mind and heart. I think my heart is losing the battle, but do not fear the mind is still in full operational mode.

On a recent trip to Arizona I picked up this little gem and listened to it non-stop all the way home. It’s amazing how cathartic long drives can be at times. Road trips are great when the destination is clearly define, but at times a road trip with no destination can help clear the mind.

Well enough about me, let me tell you about Cameron McGill , first of all who could resist those amazing blue eyes, wowsers! All kidding aside, he truly has a way with the written word aka lyrics. Pretty amazing if you ask me.

I can say without a doubt that this has quickly become a favorite on the old play list. It’s found a nice little home on all my long clearing of the mind road trips. It was tough trying to pick one song to post up here for you to listen and immediately fall addicted to but I have to say that “Low Ways” and “Minor Suite” are two of my favorites. I’m sure you will all run to your local indie shop or buy online as soon as you listen, you won’t be disappointed.

You can also listen to him on his MySpace page

Well off to think some more. I’ve recently taken a hiatus from FB and Twitter in hopes to get back to the simpler things in life like music.

Like Cameron says “Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be)”
Be well all ~ Trini

Cameron McGill [Low Ways] [4:39m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Cameron McGill [Minor Suite] [5:18m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Phosphorescent via Camera Music via SXSW

Published by smansmith on June 28, 2009 in Acoustic, Folk, Indie, Singer Songwriter and video. 0 Comments

Another great video from Scott Cudmore, this time from the man they call Phosphorescent and an informal SXSW performance of “Heaven Sitting Down”. Despite the plane circling overhead, another beauty.

Visit Camera Music HERE. Visit Phosphorescent HERE. Pick up the most recent Matthew Houck (aka Phosphorescent) album “To Willie” HERE.

"A Picture of Our Torn Up Praise" - from 2007's "Pride" [3:14m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

~Smansmith

Anticipated Release – Bowerbirds “Upper Air”

Published by smansmith on June 16, 2009 in Alternative, Americana, Folk, Indie and New Album Alert. 0 Comments

Upper Air

One of the most anticipated releases for this year is the new Bowerbirds album “Upper Air”. The album is being released this July 6th (UK first!) and July 7th (US, and I presume Canada) from the Dead Oceans label.

The album is another winner (yes we all know the album is making turns here and there lately), but this is an album that warrants a “collection” perspective. The band is clearly great, every album they have released from “Danger At Sea (EP)”, to “Hymns for a Dark Horse” to the upcoming “Upper Air” have been stellar – a feat for any band to consistently release well above average albums. I personally think their “Hymns…” album is one of the best of the decade and this album is catching up quickly. The lead off promo single “Northern Lights” is phenomenal sing along track, with the newest track released from the album “Beneath Your Tree” being a combination performance of Phil Moore and Beth Tacular’s lead vocals which builds on the traditional Bowerbirds sound with accordion and that foot stomping beat (a la Matt Damron recently) that you recognize immediately. The rest of the album follows suit with additional stand outs including a great selection of their organic slower acoustic tracks like “Bright Future” and “Silver Cloud” and “Teeth”. Well there is still the eclectic “Crooked Lust” with a bit of finger picking guitar…and then….well, you get my point.

Highly recommended and a must have in any collection.

Listen/download:

“Beneath Your Tree”
“Northern Lights”

Bonus: “In Our Talons” from both “Danger At Sea” and “Hymns for a Dark Horse”

Pre-order Bowerbirds Upper Air HERE.
Visit the Bowerbirds on the Bowerbirds Myspace and Bowerbirds Website

~Smansmith

Archive for the 'Indie' Category

Page 2 of 17

Nathaniel Rateliff & The Wheel – On Tour !

Song o’ Day – Matt Epp’s “This Old House”

Song o’ Day – Bahamas “Already Yours”

Song o’ Day: “A Thousand Men” from Joe Pug

Cameron McGill & What Army – Warm Songs for Cold Shoulders

Phosphorescent via Camera Music via SXSW

Anticipated Release – Bowerbirds “Upper Air”

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