I am beyond pumped for the Band of Horses junior release, Infinite Arms, which comes out May 18, 2010 on Brown/Fat Possum/Columbia Records. I absolutely adored BOH lead singer Ben Bridwell’s cover of “Sometimes Always” with Nashville singer-songwriter Courtney Jaye earlier this year, and hearing that duet made me yearn for Bridwell’s crystal clear vocals … Read more
As you read this, I am lying on the beach in St. Lucia, enjoying the second full day of my long-awaited honeymoon. I do not feel bad about rubbing this in your face. I am so in need of a week with nothing but a beach, a book, and an umbrella drink in hand at … Read more
Ryan Adams has received his share of praise over the last fifteen years or so. Heck, two years ago, Katie and I even titled our singer-songwriter column after Whiskeytown’s Strangers Almanac album; we often talk about our love of Adams on our Facebook page, which is inching closer to 5,000 fans day by day. It’s … Read more
Almost a year ago, Laura Burhenn, one half of the now-defunct Georgie James, traversed the country, set up shop in Oregon, and recorded the debut album of her new band, The Mynabirds. Burhenn, “always want[ing] to make a record that sounded like Neil Young doing Motown,” does the blue-eyed soul genre proud on “Numbers Don’t … Read more
The last time I saw William Elliott Whitmore live in St. Louis, he happily shared his half-full bottle of whiskey with his adoring fans. Seriously, he took a shot, and then passed the bottle to a member of the crowd, who in turn passed it on like an important note in grade school. When the … Read more
Photo credit: Danny Clinch Although the song has been used in plethora of films and television shows, the first time I actually heard Joseph Arthur’s “In the Sun” was when Michael Stipe covered it for a Hurricane Katrina relief benefit EP in 2006. Stipe’s vocals accurately alternate between hope and despair, and while many artists … Read more
Lately, it seems that everywhere I turn, someone is chirping praises for Mimicking Birds. After touring with Modest Mouse in 2009, lead singer, Isaac Brock, signed the Portland trio to his record label, Glacial Pace. With some influential heavyweights already in the band’s corner, Mimicking Birds recently released its Brock-produced, self-titled debut album. And I … Read more
Alison Goldfrapp as Large Marge in her big rig? Something like that, only much, much hotter. Below is the video preview for the new single “Rocket.” Jump over to MSN to see the video in its entirety. Head First comes out on March 22, 2010 on Mute Records. Goldfrapp on MySpace
There was a time not too long ago when I didn’t get Liz Phair. I still don’t like some of her songs, but I do generally regard her as a good, original writer with a voice that just barely gets the job done. I only say that because half the time it sounds like she’s … Read more
Photo credit: Mads Perch Photography Let’s get serious. After Jason and I started our music blog in January, cyberspace then needed another music blog like I currently need a hole in my head. While we’re totally positive that Speakers in Code fills a distinct void in your life, the Interwebs is now on a strict … Read more
“This is an invisible song/ From an invisible man…” Thanks to Jack Spencer, Matthew Ryan’s got a new video, and it’s a beauty. And it wouldn’t surprise me if this particular song, “The World Is…,” which can be found on Ryan’s latest, Dear Lover, is featured in a movie down the road. It’s got that … Read more
“Harboring the things we’ll never keep/ Born of a thousand nights without sleep…” Late last year, I caught Michael McDermott opening for Matthew Ryan at Off Broadway in St. Louis, and I was immediately taken by today’s PJOTD. You know how it goes with openers — sometimes they are decent, sometimes you’re glad you arrived … Read more
The Black Keys (Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney) are set to release their sixth full-length album, Brothers, out May 18th on Nonesuch Records. The band wrote and produced all but one track on the upcoming effort; they looked to past collaborator and one-half of Broken Bells, Danger Mouse, for one new track, “Tighten Up.” The … Read more
There are some days when I’m pretty sure the Cowboy Junkies are my favorite band. Whether or not that’s true — it depends on my mood, or if it’s raining outside (they ARE my favorite Canadian band) — I do know that I would gladly drive hundreds of miles to see one of their shows. … Read more
Sia, the lovely lady that helped make the Six Feet Under finale the most perfect ending to a television series ever, has announced her new album, We Are Born to be released on June 8, 2010 on Monkey Puzzle/Jive Records. The album features contributions from Strokes guitarist, Nick Valensi, and Inara George from the bird … Read more
The Shout Out Louds have just released a mini-documentary directed by the band’s bassist and video director, Ted Malmros. Titled Shout Out Louds … at Work, it provides insight into the process involved (the good, the bad, and the ugly) with creating the new album, Work, which is out now in stores and online. According … Read more
When Buddy Miller took the stage last Friday at The Pageant in St. Louis and performed the solo acoustic “That’s How I Got To Memphis,” one could say that he could have kept going — just him and an acoustic guitar — and everything would be fine and dandy. But when Patty Griffin joined him … Read more
FACT: Port O’Brien put out one of the best albums of 2009, threadbare. FACT: if you haven’t listened to it, you are missing out. Here’s the new music video for “Leap Year,” directed by Ben Chappell and Aaron Brown of Focus Creeps (Cass McCombs, Girls, Cold Cave). My other faves off threadbare include “My Will … Read more
According to this report from Rolling Stone, Neil Young is set to launch his first U.S. solo acoustic tour since 1999. It appears tickets will go on sale March 27th for most shows, although the full schedule hasn’t been announced yet. Bert Jansch will open the shows. I went to two shows on the 1999 … Read more
Photo credit: Marty Whistitt Ok, I’ll go ahead and admit that I’m a TV junkie. I mean, I watch good stuff. You know, the critically acclaimed, Emmy-nominated, groundbreaking cable stuff. (Although, I will admit, two episodes into the first season of True Blood, I am nervous that my neighbors will think that I am watching … Read more
There’s a lotta action going on in Joseph Arthur’s neck of the woods. First up, an auction on his vibrant paintings (pictured above) created live onstage during his tour over the last two months plus one during the filming of the music video for “Love Never Asks You to Lie.” If you want to submit … Read more
The first time I heard The Deep Vibration on my local, independent radio station, KDHX, I caught the song “Tennessee Rose” about halfway through. If I wasn’t completely obsessed with all things Ryan Adams, I would have bet a million, trillion dollars that it was a hidden track I’d previously missed off of Heartbreaker. Harmonica? … Read more
Photo credit: Victor Tavares Today, Jason Collett released the new video for his first single, “Love is a Dirty Word,” off the album Rat A Tat Tat.
“As if I didn’t know that/ As if I didn’t know my own bed…” I heard this song for the first time in years last week, and damn, it hit me hard. I thought of how great a songwriter/musician Paul Simon is, and how he might even get overlooked at times. I thought of how … Read more
The Boston Music Awards 2009 “New Act of the Year,” Mean Creek, has put out a new video for “Strange Man.” Stream/download one of my personal favorites, “It’s Good to Be Back Again.” Mean Creek – It’s Good To Be Back Again Mean Creek on Myspace
Inlets (Sebastian Krueger) debuted the video for “Bright Orange Air” over at Pitchfork today. Inter Arbiter comes out April 20, 2010 on twosyllable Records.
“Now I see you, ’til kingdom come/ You’re the one I want/ To see me for all the stupid shit I’ve done…” Late last year, I made a huge mistake and missed seeing Blind Pilot in concert. Granted, I knew little of their music at the time, and it was a difficult time in my … Read more
Ok, I realize that Yeasayer’s “Ambling Alp” is not a new song; it’s been out for almost six months. But, I think it deserves a spring reincarnation after a long, hard winter. It’s just so freaking good. Yeasayer has become my MGMT substitute over the last few months, mixing synth, catchy melodies, and world beats … Read more
Usually when I listen to David Ford, I want to spend some time in deep thought. The British singer-songwriter has penned some of my favorite heartbreakers in the past few years — tunes like “I Don’t Care What You Call Me,” “What Would You Have Me Do,” and “I’m Alright Now.” I could listen to … Read more
If you’re Canadian, can sing, and you’re an awesome songwriter, there’s a great chance I’ll probably love you. Luckily for me, Meaghan Smith fits that bill. Her cover of “Here Comes Your Man,” which can be found on the 500 Days of Summer soundtrack, and was produced by T-Bone Burnett, had me from the first … Read more