There is something about European Folk – it is soo good. This example by Signe Tollefsen provides the beauty of strings and Tollefsen’s almost classically trained voice with lazy banjo of a rocking chair on the prairies of Oklahoma. Definitely a song of the day here folks – this “half American in Amsterdam” provides you a gorgeous bit of European Americana. This could be the next big thing (as big as indie Americana singer songwriters can be…). Highly Recommended.
‘The Black Path,’ Jones’ debut solo album with producer Jim Roll (Chris Bathgate, Breathe Owl Breathe), is his own means of therapy as he reflects upon how his memories and experiences have shaped him. Jones stands with one foot in a history akin to the Smithsonian’s Folkway tradition and with another outstretched in the modern, darkened, beating heart of today, while managing not to falter in the least bridging these gaping distances. On ‘The Black Path’, Jones struggles to deal with how memories have distorted his view of the past and therefore may threaten to distort his current reality.
We here at You Crazy Dreamers have been fans of Matt Jones for a while now – check Olivier’s post AND interview from 2007 here. The new album is released next week and Matt’s tour to promote starts this weekend, Feb. 7th at The Elbow Room in Ypsilanti, Michigan. While the album is available on various online merchants, I always recommend the physical CD for the good ones, and this one falls into that category.
The Black Path has the slow and steady songwriter base, with inclusions of strings, piano and that voice. Tracks that fall into the melancholy family include “Missing Vein”, “Nothing Joyful” (find an early version on previous YCD post linked above) and even the rambling “One Cotton Shot Short”. As mentioned you will get a bit more than the standard singer songwriter here – check tracks like “Waltzing With Lady Dawn” for a bit more upbeat feel and even a touch of orchestral flare. If you needed more of this new sound of Matt, don’t miss “Threadlines” that starts with some ominous strings (the violin is great in this track) then moves to a thumping folk track that could be a reworked 1940’s anthem.
Well all I can say is you should pick up this album so we can ensure the world has more Matt Jones around. If you can, check out his upcoming tour, dates below:
Feb. 7: Elbow Room – Ypsilanti, MI *The Black Path Album Release
Feb. 8: Annabell’s – Akron, OH
Feb. 9: Morning Glory Coffeehouse- Pittsburgh, PA
Feb. 10: The Saint – Asbury Park, NJ
Feb. 11: Union Hall – Brooklyn, NY
Feb. 12: Sidewalk Café – New York, NY
Feb. 13: McGillicudy’s – Ardmore, PA
Feb. 14: The Fire – Philadelphia, PA
Feb. 15: The Velvet Lounge – Washington D.C.
Feb. 17: Broad Street Café – Durham, NC
Feb. 18: West End Wine Bar – Chapel Hill, NC
Feb. 19: Village Tavern – Charleston, SC
Feb. 20: Flicker Theater – Athens, GA
Feb. 21: Pilot Light – Knoxville, TN
Feb. 22: C.P.R. – Lexington, KY (Early)
Al’s Bar- Lexington, KY
Feb. 23: Rumba Café – Columbus, OH
Feb. 24: Cinemat – Bloomington, IN
Feb. 25: The Music Joint – Chicago, IL
Feb. 26: Frequency – Madison, WI
Feb. 27: 331 Club – Minneapolis, MN
Feb. 28: The Dav – Kingsford, MI
March 3: The Record Lounge – E. Lansing, MI
March 4: Lager House – Detroit, MI
March 5: Rubbles Bar – Mt. Pleasant, MI
For a taste of your next favourite artist, find a few tracks below from “The Black Path”, and visit Matt on MySpace.
~Smansmith
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Hey, if you haven’t heard….”Magnolia Summer”! Welcome again kiddies to another installment of “If You Haven’t Heard” and the band in question – Magnolia Summer.
This St. Louis based “rock” band (as they describe themselves) is a bit of a collection of friends that have been interchanged over the past few years under the moniker “Magnolia Summer”. The eye of this storm (does that make it sound bad?) is Chris Grabau and he is bringing the family back together for the 3rd and most recent release entitled “Lines From The Frame” out of the Undertow Music Collective stables.
The road Grabau and company travel is one that many of this ilk travel and Grabau’s themes in song crafting have been described as “...expressing a Kerouac-like love for the journey more than the destination…“. While not a new concept to the genre, it is one that is tried and true. This road of Americana recordings is one that one might find themselves traveling regardless of whether or not it is leading to a destination – but I guess that is the point previously made. Enjoy the now, the journey, with your family of friends and some solid tunes as your soundtrack. Why the hell not?
I have included two tracks from the new album below with “Diminished Returns” as well as the great “To Better Days”. It will do you good to check out the sister post over on Slowcoustic for another great track “Bird Without A Wire”, it’s a great duet with Kelly Kneiser from the band Glossary. All tracks enjoy a bit of an electric tinged Americana – with flecks of strings and a full band flare – this might be the album that the entire cast of Magnolia Summer finally got together to create.
Side Note: You might also note that Magnolia Summer contributed to one of my favourite projects of 2008 and the “Of Great and Mortal Men” 3 disc collection. Magnolia Summer joins in with Christian Kiefer on the track “William McKinley (Czolgosz’s Dream)”.
Well here we are in a new year (already!) and I just wanted to do a quick post and say thanks to all supporters of our great blog and hope everyone had a “successful” new year’s eve (I’m looking at you Laura and Martin…).
I also wanted to post a video that has made its rounds all over the music blogs, but for good reason, Damien Jurado is simply incredible and the video for “Caskets” is truly a masterpiece from Matt Daniels. You must watch it, but it is the 2nd or 3rd time that it really takes off, you start to notice the smaller things…the backgrounds, the almost missed expressions. This one is truly great.
As a bonus, take a copy of Damien Jurado’s great track “Texas to Ohio” from Jurado’s 2003 release “Where Shall You Take Me?”. Fitting for this post, don’t ya think? I can certainly say 2009 is looking to include quite a bit of great new music and we hope to be part of it (and not soo secretly hope DJ has some new material as well).
Bon Iver to Release New EP “Blood Bank January 20th.
According to the press release, “as much as “For Emma, Forever Ago” is about the cold, the Blood Bank collection is about the warmth that gets you through it.” I was pleasantly surprised to receive a preview of the new EP today, and let’s just say that is has definitely warmed my heart. I take back what I said about Mr. Mumford taking over the ranks over Bon Iver, they still hold a special place in my half empty little heart (need to start filling up the void). Enjoy the video and live MP3. Look out for the EP next year, it’s worth the wait.
Of all the available ways of expressing ourselves, Colby Stead singled out nakedness. His songs are barely dressed, merely a few guitar notes. At times they are warmed up by a female echo, sometimes by a moving cello or the breath of an accordion. In this way, he serves up an appetizing variety of ‘crudités’ for curious minds.
Today, by creating Mytunes, M. Stead offers us the possibility to crunch the apple once again: a collection of songs and spoken word you can download for ‘What’s it worth’.
Among these gems we discover his two latest albums ‘No’ and ‘So it goes’ in full, a set of home recordings, concerts and readings and others unreleased pearls like this one :
News from Joshua James ( a little late, but better late than never):
Love to all of you first and foremost, we hope that you are all well. We are happy to announce that on September 23rd, Joshua released a 3 song EP digitally throughiTunes called “Crash This Train / The Garden” EP. The song debuted at #1 on the itunes folk charts thanks to all of you’all out there showing support! There had been some clamoring for this song for quite a stretch of time, and we decided to go ahead and get it out there. The EP features a band version of “Crash This Train”, a new song called “The Garden”, and an acoustic verison of “Crash This Train” that Joshua recorded at his house. The “band” version of “Crash This Train”features the lovely Lex Landon back-up vocals who was out opening for Joshua on his summer tour. For any folks that have already ventured over to iTunes to buy the EP, we sincerely thank you!
Joshua was recently in Los Angeles putting some of the finishing touches on his 2nd full length album. We are all excited about releasing this record and will be getting it out there early in 2009. It is has been quite a journey getting the right songs down, etc, we are thoroughly excited… There will be an extensive Spring tour that Joshua and crew will be embarking on as well, so think “Spring, Spring, Spring!!!”.
As for the “holiday offer”… Some of you may already know about the holiday EP that Joshua and friends released last year called“Fields and Floods”. It is an album that Joshua recorded at his house which includes a group of holiday songs and one original “winter storm”, furthermore, we believe you might be missing out if you don’t have it. Throughout the months of November and Decemberwe are offering a free “Fields and Floods” EP (FREE FREE!!) to anyone purchasing a copy of “The Sun Is Always Brighter” on either CD or Vinyl.We have vinyl folks — it is deluxe 180 gram vinyl and includes an additional 7 inch record with the tracks “Winter Storm” and “Lovers Without Love”. Also a free download of the “The Sun Is Always Brigher” in high resolution MP3 format included with vinyl. So if you’re looking for a hard copy of “The Sun Is Always Brighter” November and December is the time to get one! Excellent gifts as well including an extra stocking stuffer
“Fields and Floods” EP with purchase.
And finally, we have the privilege to introduce to you an artist Joshua has been working with named“RuRu”.RuRu is a 16 year old singer-songwriter that wooed Joshua’s heart by playing around the utah frontier. Joshua and his accomplice of life, Mckay Stevens, sequestered RuRu earlier this year at Joshua’s home studio and recorded a debut album for this young maniac wonderboy. The album was named “Elizabeth” after RuRu’s mother who passed away a couple years ago from cancer. It is quite a compelling album with a depth of life experiences and emotions.You can go to Joshua’s label site Northplatte Records to learn more.
Thank you all for the continued support!!!! We wouldn’t be able to do this without you!
sincerely singing,
Joshua and brothers.
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Signe Tollefsen
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