Audio Showcase

Steel Train :: Trampoline

Audio Showcase — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 05:00:59 +0000

This one (another recommendation from Allison!) is uppity and very unique. Reminds me of a band I posted earlier, Born Ruffians, and maybe even a modern-day Beatles. It might take a few songs to get used to, because it’s different. Thanks Allison! Enjoy.

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top 3 tracks: [Firecracker] [Diamonds in the Sky] [Women I Belong To]

excerpt from Wikipedia: The band often polarizes opinions, mainly based around the fact that the style of rock they play is more "classic" (Jack often jokes the band was "30 years too late"), yet people see them as very much a part of the emo and pop-punk scene (mainly due to their Drive Thru Records connections). They were well noted for their impressive live shows and "jamming" ability prior to the release of Trampoline.

SafetySuit :: Life Left to Go

Audio Showcase — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 05:00:39 +0000

This is a pop indie band with some great riffs and smooth vocals. “Apology” sounds like it should be the lead track from a hockey video game. “Find a Way” sounds like a trip through stars. Enjoy.

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top 3 tracks: [Apology] [Find a Way] [Down]

excerpt from last.fm: Which begins the story of SafetySuit, an extraordinarily talented, musically confident young band that does, in fact, inspire. Their songs capture the grandeur and depth of U2, with an imaginative pop sensibility at its core and a dizzying wall of guitars as its backdrop. "It’s not rocket science," says Brown. "Quintessential good melody and good lyrics, that’s what makes a song."

Arms and Sleepers :: Matador

Audio Showcase — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 05:00:26 +0000

These tracks are smooth and mysterious, and remind me of the rain. If there were such a thing as slow-trip acid, and if I were to take it, I would probably listen to this album. The only reason it took so long for me to post it, is because it didn’t go on Amazon for the longest time. Enjoy.

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top 3 tracks: [Matador] [The Architekt] [Simone]

excerpt from myspace.com: Matador is an album studded with varying themes and textures. The synergy between a haunting sonic mix and delicate, ethereal lyrics yield an ambitious, precise whole. Maintaining consistent intensity and energy, the music and artwork both reflect the moodiness behind the concept of the album, which can be summarized as a reaction to the surroundings and circumstances Max and Mirza found themselves in throughout the past two years.

16 Horsepower :: Low Estate

Audio Showcase — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 05:00:54 +0000

A coworker and friend was playing this in the office on Monday (weird coincidence!) and I thought it was great. It just so turned out that it was a Christian artist as well, which locked it in for the final Folk Week artist. This group has since disbanded, but they put out a number of solid albums, all of which I have already, because well, they’re solid. I hope you’ve enjoyed AudShow Folk Week! Enjoy.

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top 3 tracks: [Brimstone Rock] [Sac of Religion] [Ditch Digger]

excerpt from last.fm: 16 Horsepower was an alternative/traditional musical group based in Denver, Colorado. Their music was usually serious in tone with distinct Christian religious lyrics dealing with conflict and redemption.

Noah and the Whale :: Peaceful the World Lays Me Down

Audio Showcase — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 05:00:27 +0000

Folk Week’s almost over! Here’s #6. I was initially drawn to this band by the song “Rocks and Daggers”, especially the violin breakdown. The album overall is pretty slow paced, and I’m not usually a fan of that, but hey, everything has a time and place right? Enjoy.

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top 3 tracks: [Shape of My Heart] [Rocks and Daggers] [Mary]

excerpt from Wikipedia: They have been compared to Neutral Milk Hotel, Bonnie Prince Billy and Belle & Sebastian, and the band cite both punk rock and folk as influences. Their name is a marriage of the title of one of the band's favourite films, The Squid and the Whale, and the director of said film's name (Noah Baumbach). They are also avid fans of the film director Wes Anderson, who helped produce The Squid and the Whale alongside Baumbach; the group's e-mails, and many of their MySpace blog posts, are signed "Sic Transit Gloria", a phrase frequently used in Anderson's film Rushmore.

Gregory Alan Isakov :: This Empty Northern Hemisphere

Audio Showcase — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 05:00:42 +0000

On the 5th day of Folk Week, Pandora gave me this. After thinking on the album name, I’ve decided this would be the perfect soundtrack to lie on a hammock with a beautiful lass and fall asleep watching the stars. Also check out his other album, “That Sea, the Gambler”. Enjoy.

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top 3 tracks: [Light Year] [Evelyn] [If I Go, I'm Goin']

excerpt from last.fm: Gregory Alan Isakov has been described by Boulder Weekly, “Strong, subtle, a lyrical genius” and has been compared to his influences, Bruce Springsteen, Kelly Joe Phelps, Iron & Wine and Gillian Welch. Gregory’s humble presence and his overwhelming voice and guitar style has been treasured by an ever-growing and captivated fan base.

Horse Feathers :: Words Are Dead

Audio Showcase — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 05:00:26 +0000

Folk Week #4. You’ll notice this one’s not as band-jo-vial (see what I did there?) as the rest. But that’s okay! I think they just didn’t want to be overshadowed by own personally incredible banjo skills that all the girls love. I really love the song “Dustbowl”. You probably will too if you have any sense. Enjoy.

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top 3 tracks: [Dustbowl] [Blood on the Snow] [Falling Through the Roof]

excerpt from last.fm: After fronting several rock bands in his native Idaho, singer/songwriter Justin Ringle moved to Portland, OR in 2004 and began focusing on acoustic music, playing open mics regularly under the moniker Horse Feathers. In 2005, multi-instrumentalist Peter Broderick heard a couple of Justin’s demos and offered to help flesh them out. In February 2006 the duo went into Skyler Norwood’s Miracle Lake studios and recorded their debut album, ‘Words are Dead,’ which was released that September on Portland label, Lucky Madison.

Blind Pilot :: 3 Rounds and a Sound

Audio Showcase — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 05:00:23 +0000

The 3rd installment in the Folk Week series. Blind Pilot is a bit lighter on the folk sound and a little further down the “traditional” indie path. But make no mistake, they belong on this list. “The Bitter End” sounds like a reprise to Mumford & Sons’ “The Cave”. This group is out of Portland, and if I was an indie lumberjack, this would be my jam (canigetatoast). Enjoy.

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top 3 tracks: [One Red Thread] [Two Towns from Me] [The Bitter End]

excerpt from last.fm: There’s no shortage of angles to Blind Pilot’s story: the tours by bicycle, the sheer volume of iTunes downloads, the dizzying ride from relative obscurity to headlining a national club tour in less than a year. But the real story of Portland, Oregon’s Blind Pilot is about the songs. Led by the acoustic guitar and gentle voice of songwriter Israel Nebeker, Blind Pilot’s heartfelt music is the sort that cultivates devotion among fans, that elicits sing-alongs at concerts, that inspires late- night mixtapes.

Johnny Flynn :: A Larum

Audio Showcase — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 05:00:07 +0000

The 2nd in the Folk Week installment. Johnny Flynn is a young guy (he’s only my age!) with a seasoned voice and great instrumentals, making great use of offbeat rhythms here and there. I would definitely be listening to this album if I was hiking in Alaska with a lantern. Enjoy.

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top 3 tracks: [Eyeless in Holloway] [Sally] [All the Dogs Are Lying Down]

excerpt from last.fm: Johnny Flynn’s music is brimming over with heart, soul and intelligence. Drawing on diverse influences - Pixies, Vaughn Williams and anti-folk pioneer Dianne Cluck are all name checked on his Myspace page - Johnny draws on a century’s worth of folk, blues and country to create a sound that dwells profoundly in the now.

Mumford and Sons :: Sigh No More

Audio Showcase — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 05:00:16 +0000

I recently found this band and instantly loved them so much that I set out on what’s been coined “The Banjo Hajj”. Out of that spawned my discovery of a number of fresh bands in the genre. I’ve even made an exception to my own rule by featuring this band at this point (they aren’t on iTunes/Amazon yet).

So, here is the 1st installment out of 5 for this 1/52 of the year, aka AudShow Folk Week. “The Cave” and “Little Lion Man” own souls. Enjoy.

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top 3 tracks: [The Cave] [White Blank Page] [Little Lion Man]

excerpt from last.fm: Mumford & Sons are a folk/bluegrass group formed in London in September 2007. Having received critical acclaim from The Guardian on their “Band of the Day” online forum, and resounding praise from nearly everyone who has witnessed them supporting Laura Marling, Mumford & Sons continue to turn heads in London’s growing folk scene.