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Annabelle Chvostek - Resilience

Published
by
Olivier
on October 8, 2008
in Acoustic, Alt-Country, Folk, Rock, Singer Songwriter and When artist blog
. 2 Comments

Two songs made me really cry so far this year : ‘A Thought‘ from So it Goes last Colby Stead’s release  and  ‘Line of Ascent‘ from Annabelle Chvostek’s brand new Resilience collection. Want to try and test your own resilience ?
Resilience ? Funny how things are sometimes emerging around you… Or may be, should I say : funny how  sometimes, we are able to give our mind the faculty to merge some multiple non-sense details surrounding your daily life into a single fact. From puzzling to evidence, maybe it’s just a matter of perception…anyway.
Dealing with resilience, I’m testing mine in both psychological and physical way, quitting smoking… oh my !

I’m quite fascinating by the fact that 98% of our 400 daily visitors are reading this blog without leaving a single comment… Aren’t you ? what ? dubitative ? Mysterious ways of modern communication… No i’m not awaiting for support… just trying to experiment this changing audience constituted by a majority of North-American people ; definitly coping with humour today ! Still someone around ?

Hum… I was supposed to introduce you last Miss Chvostek album…. yes, music is just a deluder…

Resilience ? Without a doubt, my favorite album this year in the female songwriter genre. My fellow Canadian blogger Smansmith should have been more prolix about this charismatic member of The Wailin’ Jennys, who received contributions in this new project from an impressive collection of talented friends amongst them,  Cockburn, Marie Gauthier, Ani DiFranco to name few..

As usual when an album is so good, let me tease you with the intro track…

 
 Resilience - Annabelle Chvostek [3:43m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Artist : Annabelle Chvostek
Label : none
Where to buy : cdbaby.com
More Appetizers :  @ Annabelle.org many mp3s to listen / @myspace as usual

Carrie Elkin & Danny Schmidt on Tour !

Published
by
Olivier
on October 6, 2008
in Acoustic, Folk, New Album Alert, News, On Tour, Rock and Singer Songwriter
. 0 Comments

On Tour Together ! Yes. Have you really, really, really read the title of this post ? So what else to expect from me ?
First, some excuses : I’m really late posting about two of the most talented songwriters (yes I really measure these words) who are touring for some months now ! Then, few more buckets of apologies - last time -  for being so short writing about this performance : only couple dates left in december. Check the schedule below, and jump to the artists sites for further details.

  • 12/7    Sun    Philadelphia, PA       House Concert
  • 12/11  Thur  Charlottesville, VA    Gravity Lounge
  • 12/12    Fri    Harrisonburg, VA    Little Grill
  • 12/19    Fri    Winston-Salem, NC    Fiddle & Bow

Well, admitting you don’t know Carrie Elkin… Joker ? Here’s your chance…

I won’t blame you because it was my case couple weeks ago. I don’t clearly remember the circumstance but good chance I was looking to satisfy my appetite for the Austin based songwriter… a click pointed me on Danny Schmidt’s Live Music Archive page.  I’ve downloaded one of his show performed this last december at the Cactus Cafe … After couple intro solo songs, Danny invited Carrie Elkin to sing with him the superb ‘Drawing Board’ song. A good addition, Carrie’s light voice is bringing a new ‘relief’ to the solo performer… 2 songs later, the duet played ‘Serpentine Cycle Of Money’ : a terrific (unreleased ?) song… and what a revelation for me ! From the sweet backing vocals of the firsts songs, Mrs Elkin delivered on this one an amazing power ! I still can’t believe my ears seduced by both the song’s quality -  even if it’s not really a surprise when it came out of Danny Schmidt - and by the deep raucous voice reached by such a slender looking of this Texan vocalist ( do never trust appearance). A single loop on her myspace’s playlist easily convinced me to add to my cdbaby cart (give me coupons) her last two albums : ‘The Waltz’ and ‘The Circumstance of Jeopardy’. An absolutely gorgeous package : musically, lyrically, vocally and… beautifully.

And if -  I can’t imagine - if you don’t know Danny Schmidt… then consider buying his complete discography right now : Few can equals his songwriting density.
For both artists, find below the intro songs of their last albums, ‘Little Grey Sheep’ for Danny and ‘The Circumstance of Jeopardy’ for Carrie.

 
 Serpentine Cycle of Money - Dany Schmidt [5:51m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 
 Obadiah - Carrie Elkin [4:01m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 
 Leaves are Burning - Danny Schmidt [4:30m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Danny Schmidt “Company of Friends” Storyhill Fest ‘08 with Carrie Elkin

Artist : Carrie Elkin - Danny Schmidt

Ravens & Chimes - So Long Marianne

Published
by
Olivier
on October 4, 2008
in Alternative, Folk, Indie and Rock
. 0 Comments

Two by Two the posts arrived !
Browsing my list of indie music for the previous post, Ravens & Chimes first full length ‘Reichenbach Falls’ is encore a fresh memory, regularly looping in my four and five stars playlist. And I have to confess (it’s been a long time…), that i’ve subscribed to their blog as they’re publishing beautiful phographs.

Surprise, surprise on their myspace playlist, a brand new song titled : So Long Marianne… Some of you know my addiction for the complete oeuvre of Leonard Cohen. I had a doubt… I do conf..s !
The ‘Come over to the window, my little darling’ first verse left me no doubt on the covering act… and what a talented cover : a surprising rhythme, richly orchestrate ; so fresh !!!

 
 So Long Marianne - Ravens & Chimes [5:15m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Well, all you have to do is loop ! And prefer the Reichenbach Falls ( ? ) than ‘The Songs of Leonard Cohen’ until another moon !

Patient Patient - The Free EP

Published
by
Olivier
on October 4, 2008
in Alternative, Free Download, Indie and Rock
. 1 Comment

It’s less and less often, but sometimes indie music grabs my attention. Bands that delivered power such as Okkervil River, Pela or less rated and already mentioned here The Easy Dream, Balthrop Alabama, Diacon-Panthers, Ravens & Chimes, and Clear Tigers are always a welcome addition to my main acoustic singer songwriter streamline.

Don’t ask me the reason I’ve landed my browser on Patient Patient virb’s page (*), but it was a great chance. Once again, I’ve found another opportunity to point you to a great free EP for your week-end. It’s free, but chances are, you’ll have to consider this offer along with the acquisition their first full-length album ‘Professionals and Convicts‘ released in 2007, and to tease you here’s the beautiful intro song from their first release.

 
 Without Arms [3:59m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Band : Patient, Patient
Where to buy : cdbaby.com
Where to get The free EP mp3 ? here !
Who else should you love : check the list above.

(*) Why artitst are always pointing to theses awful myspace pages ??? Virb is just a clean beautiful site with best practises about mp3 protection !

It’s supposed to snow tonight…

Published
by
Olivier
on October 3, 2008
in Acoustic, Folk, On Tour, Singer Songwriter and chamber pop
. 0 Comments

“…It’s supposed to snow tonight,
I hope the forecast is right,
cos in the morning i sleep in till i like,
and if it snowed outside it would feel so nice in here.”

Yes, once again on youcrazydreamers, Chris Garneau ! I’ve received couple days ago, one of his rare newsletters announcing some European dates (Uk, Belgium Denmark, Spain and… France). I’m still awaiting for the Nantes SOY festival to confirm his venue on the 1st of November ! I should be around at that time for a full week of a delicate mix of holidays/business in my old South Britany : I won’t miss this opportunity !


Chris Garneau “In the Afternoon” @ Théâtre Bastille (Paris)

Forest Sun - Harlequin Goodnight

Published
by
Olivier
on October 2, 2008
in Acoustic, Americana, Folk, Indie, On iTunes, Rock, Singer Songwriter and blues
. 0 Comments

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…

 
 Diamond - Forest Sun [2:47m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 
 Queen Anne s Lace - Forest Sun [3:39m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

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

If You Haven’t Heard - Donovan Woods

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

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

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

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

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

~Smansmith

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

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

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