The Belle Brigade - The Belle Brigade

There is literally nothing that I can say about this California-based brother and sister duo, other than that they are amazing and that they sound strikingly like a young (and edgier) Fleetwood Mac. Fantastic.



Tracklisting:
1. Sweet Louise
2. Where Not To Look For Freedom
3. Losers
4. Belt of Orion
5. Shirt
6. Lucky Guy
7. Lonely Lonely
8. Punch Line
9. Rusted Wheel
10. My Goodness
11. Fasten You To Me

Mock Orange - Disguised as Ghosts

Well, it's been a while since I last posted, and with the leak of the new Mock Orange album, I'd say that there's no better time than the present. I remember being introduced to Mock Orange while I was still a student at KCU. They were different than what I was listening to at the time, and didn't quite catch my attention like they have over the last few years. Their last album, Captain Love, was great. It was bigger and catchier. Now they have taken a step back and are finding a nice middle ground between Captain Love and their most popular album, Mind Is Not Brain. And what a great place to be. I'm only 3 songs into my first listen and I'm already hooked. (And somehow, I have never noticed just how much frontman Ryan Grisham sounds like Jeremy Enigk, until just now.)

Tracklisting:
1. Grow You Soul Away
2. Silent Motion
3. My Car
4. Sidewalk
5. I Can Sing
6. Feel It Now
7. End Of The World
8. Going Away
9. Roll Your Eyes
10. Stop and Go

This Will Destroy You - This Will Destroy You

I think it may have to do with the fact that my wife is a graduate student and that most of the music that I listen to tends to distract her while he's trying to do her homework, but I have been finding myself gravitating to bands like Explosions in the Sky, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, and, in the case of this particular post, This Will Destroy You. I honestly don't know why I am finding myself more enamored by this particular quartet, but there is something very epic and beautiful about their self-titled debut lp that has just captured my attention today. If you are even a passing fan of any of the aforementioned bands, then do yourself a favor and introduce yourself to this young band, because they will blow your mind in the span of this 52 minute record.

Tracklisting:
1. A Three Legged Workhorse
2. Villa Del Refugio
3. Threads
4. Leather Wings
5. The Mighty Rio Grande
6. They Move On Tracks of Never-Ending Light
7. Burial on the Presidio Banks

Radiohead - The King of Limbs

It's so funny to think that not even a week ago, the prospect of a new Radiohead album was an abstract and ambiguous one. And here we are, with the new album in hand. I mean, we all know why they did it: to discourage the album from leaking before the appropriate date. I think that it also had perhaps an unforeseen side-effect: it caused so much hype that everyone has been on pins and needles in anticipation of the release.

Now before I go any further, I want to make it known that I am one of those Radiohead fans that loved In Rainbows. The band themselves have gone on record as saying that they hate that record, and I personally know people who didn't enjoy it. I did. I was not, however, expecting a repeat of that sound with this new record. It's hard to guess what a band that has been around for over 20 years, and whom have experimented and changed their sound with nearly every record released will do next. Somehow, though, they have managed to remain relevant and innovative even after all of these years; a feat that few others have accomplished.

The King of Limbs is exactly what you expect it to be: amazing. Drawing upon the droning and electronic tinged sound of Ok Computer and the lush, yet understated orchestral works reminiscent of Hail To The Thief, TKoL is a great addition to an already stunning discography.

Tracklisting:
1. Bloom
2. Morning Mr. Magpie
3. Little By Little
4. Feral
5. Lotus Flower
6. Codex
7. Give Up The Ghost
8. Separator

Nathan Edwin - Willow Spillow

In the many years that I have been involved in various local music scenes (and I know many many people within), I have never known anyone with more talent or determination than Nathan Edwin. He writes the kind of music that I wish I were capable of writing: atmospheric, emotional, and moving. The songs themselves are stories told about people not unlike your own friends, by people not unlike yourself.

I can't count how many nights were spent in a dark room, watching Nathan croon by the glow of the Christmas lights strung across Josh's keyboards, while Andrew loses track of himself in the music swirling about, hitting the drums seemingly at random, yet blending himself perfectly into the brew. To see them live is to see something special. To see Nathan perform by himself is to see something so intimate and personal that you can't help feeling as though you yourself are a character in one of his songs. You see, I have a theory that we revere artists so much because they themselves are a conduit for something bigger and more beautiful to shine through. They pull aside the curtain, ever so slightly, and give us a glimpse of something we may not have ever seen before. Nathan Edwin is a conduit. He channels something wonderful through his words and fingertips and deserves to have nothing but open doors before him.

Tracklisting:
1. Old Days
2. Showtunes
3. Willow
4. Pocket Poetry
5. Pick Pockets
6. Hermitage

Alexi Murdoch - Towards The Sun

Alexi Murdoch is a singer-songwriter that I want so badly to like. Upon hearing the track "All Of My Days" from his full-length debut, Time Without Consequence, I fell in love. Then I listened to the rest of the album, which to me seemed uninspired and less impressive than the opening track. Now, I realize that some artists require a few listens before you can truly appreciate them, and I'm not above giving the album a few more listens, but I'm not hopeful. In my hopes of finding an album that is overall cohesive and more than a collection of mediocre songs and one great song, I downloaded the Towards The Sun EP. It is exactly what I was looking for. Hushed and stripped down, the album is full of beautiful songs that are each as good as the others. Give a listen. Critics have said that Murdoch's "lyrics and vocals blend the mystery of Nick Drake with the warmth of a Cat Stevens or Gordon Lightfoot," and that he has an "earnest, comforting voice and conversational, emotional delivery."

Tracklisting:
1. Towards The Sun
2. At Your Door
3. Some Day Soon
4. Slow Revolution
5. Through The Dark
6. Her Hands Were Leaves
7. Crinan Wood

Joan Baez - Blessed Are...

So maybe I'm becoming a hippy. I still shower, I assure you, but lately, my tastes have shifted significantly. More than anything, I find myself listening to later Beatles, Bob Dylan, Joan Baez and others. 1960s folk-darling Joan Baez is the focus of this particular post. I honestly don't know how she has evaded my attention for so long, but I'm paying attention now and thank goodness for that. This album is amazing through and through. Also, her cover of The Beatles' "Let It Be" is moving and one of the best covers I have ever heard. Period.

Tracklisting:

Disc 1:
1. Blessed Are
2. The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down
3. The Salt of the Earth
4 Three Horses
5. The Brand New Tennessee Waltz
6. Last, Lonely and Wretched
7. Lincoln Freed Me Today (The Slave)
8. Outside The Nashville City Limits
9. San Francisco Mabel Joy
10. When Time Is Stolen
11. Heaven Help Us All

Disc 2:
1. Angeline
2. Help Me Make It Through The Night
3. Let It Be
4. Put Your Hand In The Hand
5. Gabriel and Me
6. Marie Flore
7. The Hitchhikers' Song
8. The 33rd of August
9. Fifteen Months
10. Plane Wreck at Los Gatos (Deportee)
11. Maria Dolores

Recently Acquired Vinyls

Johnny Cash - American VI: Ain't No Grave

Released around 7 years after his death, American VI: Ain't No Grave is a collection of mostly covers, all with the theme of death and coming to terms with his imminent demise. A truly great album. Andrew Perry of The Daily Telegraph described the album as "Cash’s final, life-affirming masterpiece", which I find to be rather appropriate.

Tracklisting:
1. Ain't No Grave
2. Redemption Day
3. For The Good Times
4. 1 Corinthians 15:55
5. Can't Help But Wonder Where I'm Bound
6. Satisfied Mind
7. I Don't Hurt Anymore
8. Cool Water
9. Last Night I Had The Strangest Dream
10. Aloha Oe

Nathan Edwin's First Vinyl LP = HELP!!!

My friend Nathan is one of the most talented and creative songwriters that I have ever known. Right now he is in the process of getting his first full length pressed on vinyl, but he needs the money to do so. Go visit his Kickstarter account and throw a couple of bucks his way and in the process get some cool stuff.



Also, as incentive, here is a compilation that I made of my favorite of his songs. Enjoy!

Tracklisting:
1. Birds
2. Tennessee
3. We Tried Our Best
4. Did You Come Clean?
5. Flowers Of Our Dynasty
6. My Best
7. The Queen Of Italy