Archive for the 'Singer Songwriter' Category

Kelley McRae - Highrises in Brooklyn

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

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

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

and performance !

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

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

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

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

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

Eef Barzelay

Published
by
Geordie
on June 16, 2008
in Alternative, Country, Indie, New Album Alert and Singer Songwriter
. 0 Comments

You may be wondering why i’ve been so prolific in blogging the last week or so or maybe you haven’t, maybe you have not even noticed and are too busy to care but the truth of the matter is i had a small operation last week and so therefore have had a bit of time on my hands to listen to a lot more music than i have been able to recently which is about time to be honest as there doesn’t seem to be enough hours in the day recently.

Eef barzelay incase you are not aware is the lead singer of the brilliant and criminally overlooked alt/country band Clem Snide. They have been going on and off since the early 90’s (where the fuck did they go?The 90’s,not Clem snide) and Eef has released a few solo albums. His latest, lose big could be a midway contender for album of the year. Seriously not a bad track on this album, Songwriting to match anyone in this category or any other for that matter. His voice has an air of familiarity to it but can’t put my finger on it, i keep thinking Conor Oberst but not sure. Quite a diverse album is this, from the first track could be worse which is something that pehaps would sit gently on a Clem snide album. One of the stand out tracks is The girls don’t care which from the very first note with it’s heavy funky as hell bass line could be dropped into any dance club and it would get people moving, wouldn’t surprise me at all if someone does a re-mix of it, I might do one myself ! The soulful tone is maintained throughout the album but the real killer song on it for me is True freedom, a stop everything and listen track, stunning. Pick this album up asap, i have heard some superb albums so far this year and i keep saying to myself ‘album of the year so far’ but i will tell you hear and now, this one is taking some beating. It just flows effortlessly from one song to the next and when it’s finished you just want to go back and play it again and again. I have also added a track form his 2006’s Bitter honey, enjoy.

Eef Barzelay - True freedom

Eef Barzelay - Well

 
 Eef Barzelay - True freedom [5:34m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 
 Eef Barzely - Well [3:42m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Say it ain’t So - Mark Berube

Published
by
Olivier
on June 9, 2008
in Acoustic, Alternative, Folk, Indie, New Album Alert, News, Rock and Singer Songwriter
. 0 Comments

Do you remember ? ‘Do you remember some warm september… one sunny afternoon…‘ I can’t resist dealing with a song called ‘Say it ain’t so’ and not evoke Murray Head. Murry Head ? One night in Bangkok ? ouch.. forget this one ! Prefer : Mademoiselle, Children only play (Do you remember…), Cocktail Molotov, Los Angeles, Never even thought, Last daze of an empire, Say it ain’t so, Joe… Well, Murray Head !

In a different style, but both inspired and talented, - and comparisons must being stopped here - Mark Berube as written down his own ‘Say it Ain’t So’… and it seems that his new sister-album, from his magnificent ‘What the river gave the boat‘ ; ‘What the boat gave the river’ - which is not a clean catholic concept - is already recorded, and will be available around august / september.

In the meantime, listen to this fabulous ‘Say it ain’t so’ recorded live @ the Cultch in Vancouver and check Mark Berube’s myspace page to listen to couple tracks from his forthcoming album : ‘Yesterday’s Halo’, ‘Flowers on the Stones’, ‘Minus 17′ are already rated 5 stars on my itunes library : singular symphonies oscillating between chamber pop and folk ; powerful lyrics ; an accurate sense of the melody ; and above all a blessing talent for sharing his music !

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

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

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

Arlan Feiles - Come Sunday Morning

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

I’ve been quite silent these past months, partly due to my business and partly due to the fact that few albums really fascinated me. Amongst the few, one is still playing from start to end : Come Sunday Morning from Arlan Feiles !

For his second full length solo effort, Mr Feiles has composed and produced the most appealing collection of tracks : from americana-tinted ballads including banjo, dobro and fiddle, to pure acoustic guitar-vocals promenades and through some perfect folk piano driven harmonies. A rich combination where the Los Angeles native songwriter found place to lay his engaged lyrics - album is even including a spoken track ! Here’s an excerpt from his biography page..

‘It is now again time to be tested as Americans. To become the difference makers that have shaped the world today. As one voice as a nation of hope. A Demand for peace fairness and liberty to every man, women and child. To insist on the promise of justice. To reclaim our rights afforded by the good people of the greatest country in the world. The dream is not forgotten. - Still always a dreamer.’

Come Sunday MorningFacing such a talent - Arlan has shared stages with The Band, The late Warren Zevon, Hot Tuna, Joan Baez, Richie Havens, Warren Haynes, Dave Mathews, Bob Pollard, and many more. - I could not resist buying his previous album. “Razing a nation” released in 2005 and re-issued last year is also written in the same vein. It contains the single Sign-up who has been top of the list of Neil Young’s “Living with War- Songs of the Times”.

Once again, I won’t torture myself selecting the single track to tease your ears as each of this amazing album deserved to be listened… here’s the intro -album - titled track.

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

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

Aimee Mann - @%&*!Smilers

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

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

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

Josh Geffin

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

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

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

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

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

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

Colby Stead announces new Album

Published
by
Olivier
on May 24, 2008
in New Album Alert, News and Singer Songwriter
. 2 Comments

So It Goes, Colby Stead’s 2008 collection will be released on 31st of May.
Be sure to check his website and myspace page for dates and cd availability. Count on me for a complete review in the coming weeks.