Hold you down

“Hold You Down” by One Little Plane // Into the Trees (2012)

One Little Plane is Chicago based folk musican Kathryn Bint, and her dreamy folk compositions have drawn some pretty impressive fans and collaborators in the form of Colin Greenwood (Radiohead) and Kieran Hebden (Four Tet). Both musicians play on “Hold You Down” (with Kieran Hebden producing the album and releasing it on his label, Text) and help build a lovely, melancholic atmosphere, but the real star is Kathryn Blint’s writing and restrained voice. Highly recommended for fans of Gem Club, Jen Wood, and Mark Kozelek. 

the shins - new slang

“New Slang (Acoustic at SXSW)” by The Shins // Live from the Lot (2012)

What more really needs to be said about this song? It’s a perfect pop song and here the band does nothing particularly radical with the track outside of some melodic shifts and female backing vocals. That being said, it’s still a wonderful chance to revisit a modern classic in a present day acoustic/in-studio setting (recorded at Google’s SXSW “Live from the Lot” party). You can buy the full 5 track EP now at Google. 

(buy) “Live from the Lot” by The Shins (via Google Music)

Good Girl

“Good Girl” by Wildeflower // Good Girl 7” (2012)

Wildeflower have the sort of lived in sound that makes their brand of harmony-filled folk sounds all the more lush and authentic. “Good Girl” comes from a forthcoming 7” that’s being released on May 14th via Stella Mortos, and if it’s any indication of where this UK based band is heading with their sound, then count me in for the long haul. They’re going to get their Fleet Foxes comparisons, sure, but this feels like something less produced and more free form. Not to say that it sounds jammy, but it takes it’s time getting the harmonies right, and the rolling percussion matches up with the acoustic guitar and general atmospherics in a really dreamy, and gorgeous way. Highly recommended for fans of Daniel Rossen, Gold Leaves, and Fleet Foxes. 

GOLD BEACH "Gold Beach"

“Gold Beach” by Gold Beach // Gold Beach EP (2012)

Austin’s Gold Beach have a dreamy folk sound that combines sounds you might hear on a Memoryhouse record with sounds that you might hear on an Okkervil River record. The folk/dream pop combo works especially well when the lush harmonies and the atmospheric production line up to make sort of a shimmering autumnal sound that is especially present on the track “Gold Beach” (featured on last year’s debut LP, as well as the recent EP release). It makes for a nice fusion that should play nicely to fans of Local Natives, Annuals, and Freelance Whales. 

Lost Lander - Wonderful World

“Wonderful World” by Lost Lander // Drrt (2012)

Last year, Lost Lander released the song “Cold Feet” which was one of my favorite tracks of the year. I waited patiently for the album to drop and it finally has (late January on Bandcamp), but it’s not exactly what I expected. Following the first single, I was expecting something of an indie-rock-throwback album that was loaded with tracks that felt like the late 90’s, melody rich indie pop bands that seemed to have inspired “Cold Feet”. Instead, I got a gorgeously, subtle, orchestral pop album that reminds me of Grandaddy one minute, Fleet Foxes the next. Let’s just say that I’m perfectly fine with the trade up. “Wonderful World” is one of the stand outs, with it’s somber tone, ghostly production, and killer harmonies. It reminds me of Midlake’s brilliant “Roscoe” from 2006, but colder, and melancholic (in a good way). It’s a fantastic album worth your time and you can stream it now and purchase it at Bandcamp. 

(stream/purchase) “Drrt” by Lost Lander (via Bandcamp)

Sun Kil Moon - Sunshine in Chicago

“Sunshine in Chicago” by Sun Kil Moon // Among the Leaves (2012)

Leave it to Mark Kozelek (Red House Painters, Sun Kil Moon) to release some new music that transports me to an autumnal place, just when i’m properly craving some seasonal shifts. “Sunshine in Chicago” is a new track from the forthcoming Sun Kil Moon album, Among the Leaves, and it has that familiar, warmth, wrapped in a melancholic acoustic number that we’ve come to expect from most of Kozelek’s projects. It’s a good track and a nice primer for the new album. Here’s hoping he breaks out some of those more dynamic sounds that he’s been exploring on recent Sun Kil Moon records (especially the darker stuff found on April). 

(download) “Sunshine in Chicago” by Sun Kil Moon (via P4k) 

M. Ward - Primitive Girl (Single Version)

“Primitive Girl” by M. Ward // A Wasteland Companion (2012)

I never turn away a chance to hear M. Ward perform solo, be it on record or on stage. The man draws plenty of talented individuals to him for collaboration, but for me, the good stuff lies on his solo material. Luckily, he’s back doing the solo thing on the forthcoming Merge Records release, A Wasteland Companion. The first taste is a driving, folk pop jam called “Primitive Girl”. It’s got a bit of a mid-80’s Springsteen vibe (big harmonies, twinkling piano lines, and driving rhythms) mixed in with a bit of a Summer Teeth-era Wilco sound, but then again, it’s all M. Ward. Thankfully this time without the Monsters of Folk or Zooey Deschanel around to hog up all the spotlight. 

Chad & Jeremy - A Summer Song

“A Summer Song” by Chad and Jeremy // A Summer Song (1964)

The best love songs mix the sweet and the somber. Chad and Jeremy’s “A Summer Song” is one of those songs that I remember hearing on oldies stations as a kid and then it was forever burned into my brain by Rushmore and the lovesick Max Fischer. Perhaps someone will want to hear this on Valentine’s Day, or any day for that matter. Melodies and harmonies like that never get old -just look at The Shins or Real Estate or any number of bands that still harvest similar gold. 

Cass McCombs - You Saved My Life

“You Saved My Life” by Cass McCombs // Catacombs (2009)

I had originally planned a Valentine’s Day mixtape for everyone, but one thing lead to another and time got away from me and Mediafire decided to dump all of my files, so I scrapped the plan. In the mixtape, I tried to feature songs that were not exactly traditional choices (there are only so many covers of The Cure’s “Love Song” that can be used), and on top of that list is one of my favorite songs, period, and that’s Cass McCombs’ sweet and heartbreaking track “You Saved My Life”. I’ll just pepper some of the choices throughout the day. 

For all of you celebrating Valentine’s Day or not, best wishes to you all. Make the best of whatever time you have with those you love, even if you’re alone. Be safe. 

Burning Hearts - On The Last Day Of The Decade

“On the Last Day of the Decade” by Burning Hearts // Extinctions (2012)

Burning Hearts had one of my favorite songs of last year (“Into the Wilderness”) and there is a lot to love on their new full length, Extinctions, but for the life of me, I can’t shake the familiarity of this song to something that I hear years ago. Don’t get me wrong, I very much love “On the Last Day of the Decade” with its dream-like speak/sing cadence and it’s slow build into a folksy, Billy Bragg style folksy sing-a-long. I just can’t place where I feel like i’ve heard something similar. Maybe it’s a trip hop act from the late 90’s - Dubstar or St. Etienne or Hooverphonic… or maybe i’m just hearing something where there’s nothing. At any rate, this is a great little dream pop gem recommended for fans of St. Etienne, Darkness Falls, or The Sundays.

Bowerbirds - In the Yard

“In The Yard” by Bowerbirds // The Clearing (2012)

This haunting, slowly-building, new track from Bowerbirds is just the kind of right way to kick of a week. A dark, melancholic piano and drum combo lead the track through tempo changes that ultimately build to something all together wonderful. Most of this album was recorded at Bon Iver’s Wisconsin production studio and the close proximity might have worn off on Bowerbirds, because there’s something about this that reminds me of the Blood Bank EP. Then again, I might just be reading into it. Definitely a must listen. 

(download) “In The Yard” by Bowerbirds (via Pitchfork)

Matthew Joel - Sleepless

“Sleepless” by Matthew Joel // Sleepless (single) (2012)

Vancouver musician Matthew Joel is back with a gorgeous, hazy, post rock tinged folk track called “Sleepless” that’s an excellent follow up to last year’s wonderful 4 part EP, The Glories. That EP found him exploring more ambient, electronic sounds to great effect, but this time around, “Sleepless” plays in a different sandbox. The track has a slow, melancholic vibe that builds and churns into a post rock fever dream, before cresting and sliding back into a dream like hypnotic state. It’s pretty excellent. Highly recommended for fans of Adem, Stars of the Lid, or The Twilight Sad. 

(download) “The Glories” || (stream) Select songs by Matthew Joel on Bandcamp

Daniel Rossen - Saint Nothing

“Saint Nothing” by Daniel Rossen // Silent Hour / Golden Mile (2012)

The members of Grizzly Bear never seem to let me down. Daniel Rossen’s work outside of the band has been especially interesting. His early work with Department of Eagles blended electronics and psych pop into some incredible material and later they matured into something of an experimental folk act that lead to similar excellent output. Now, Warp Records is releasing an EP of Rossen’s solo material titled Silent Hour/Golden Mile and they’ve dropped the first taste in the form of the haunting, melancholic piano led number, “Saint Nothing”. On paper you would think that you would know exactly what to expect from a sad, piano ballad from one of the Grizzly Bear guys, but you’d be underestimating Rossen’s talent. While the song is a gorgeous, must-listen on those merits, the real sell is the incredible production and multi-instrumental flourishes that are peppered throughout (the horn section and soft, jazz structure drums are especially gorgeous). I can’t say enough good about this song. Highest possible recommendation.