Cedarwell

Its been forever, but I'm finally settled down in an apt where I have access to the internet. Over the past couple of weeks I've been listening to a lot of bands and this is definitely one that really stuck out.

Cedarwell comes from the state of Wisconsin. I completely forgot that Wisconsin existed, but it still does. Cedarwell is led by Erik G. Neave whose style reminds me very much of Blind Pilot. The album "A Stone, A Leaf, a Door" has some downers some uppers and everything in between.

Definitely for fans of Blind Pilot or Sufjan Stevens.


Cedarwell - Untitled from LaundroMatinee on Vimeo.

The Felice Brothers

Straight from the Catskill Mountains, the racous and calloused sound of The Felice Brothers has been ripping through the Capital Region and beyond for the better part of the past decade. Writing about them in here seems almost redundant as all of my friends know them well already, some of them personally. Nonetheless, they put on the best show I've ever seen at Valentines the last time they came to town. To me, they are one of the most original bands to come out of the area. The folk-loreish lyrics and stripped down instrumentation mixed with the energetic rhythm section make for a uniquely raw listening experience. All the drunken sing-alongs and "sha na na" anthams set this band on the fast track to becoming huge, and not just in the underground. Though I am partial to the old self-titled album, the new record, Yonder Is The Clock, is starting to grow on me as well. I've posted some old live videos here for those who haven't seen them before to get a taste of what The Felice Brother's experience is like. Cheers!

The Whispertown 2000

Out of (where else?) Los Angeles, The Whispertown 2000 is a band that I was very quick to brush off as a terrible band. But I think they're just an acquired taste. They've grown on me, much like kale. First taste, "blegh" and then, you see, it's the real thing.

I also have a different experience from watching their videos than I do from just listening to their albums. If you can forget that they're all so damn gordgeous, you might have a better time forming an opinion about their sound.

I'm into it, but the last time I tried this band for background music at the coffeeshop where I work, someone asked if I can change the "screeching cat voice lady." Talk about bumming your stoke.

Love it or leave it, friends.

So Runs The World Away

     Josh Ritter’s fourth album, So Runs The World Away, is another amazing example of Ritter’s songwriting ability. This album is a comfortable step from The Historical Conquests  because it continues the progression from the acoustic songs of Animal Years to more rock and roll inspired melodies and instrumentals.
      The song topics and storytelling quality is still some of the best available from current artists. Stories of mummified love affairs, hellish love affairs, and grandiose adventures to find new worlds pepper the album. What makes Ritter albums so great is that the listener can choose to tune out and just enjoy the vocals and musical support or they can choose to really tune it and hear amazing tales.
     The whole album can be streamed from Npr.org but I highly suggest you make this a permanent addition to any catalogue.

And go see him live every chance you get...



Josh Ritter Myspace

California Music

I've been staying in Los Angeles for the past week, and I thought it'd be a good idea to post a California themed folk-post. Our first night in town, my boyfriend and I were able to get out to Pomona and catch She & Him at the Glasshouse just before they went off to Coachella. Their new stuff is just as sugar-sweet as the first album, but I think it's actually a little more fearless and really embraces the 70's AM gold kind of sound they seemed to be experimenting with on their first record. "Thieves" is a really country-fuzzy pop tune, definitely one of the best off the new album. M. Ward, as usual, kills it with this twangy round guitar sound and harmonizes well with Zooey Deschanel. Dig it, especially the Hollywood-Romance ending. This music is like ice cream to me.


The Chapin Sisters opened for She and Him, and are definitely worth checking out. I think they sort of border on cheesy (in a less intentional way than She and Him does) but it's easy to see past it, especially after watching them live. Their powerful folk harmonies and Laurel Canyon gypsy stage presence make them hard to ignore.


I also have been unable to stop listening to The Living Sisters. I picked up their album for about $5 at the ridiculously cool/famous Amoeba Music in Hollywood. The band is made up of three front women of already super west-coast indie bands: Inara George from the Bird and the Bee, Eleni Mandell, and Rebecca Stark from Lavender Diamond. They come together and master heartbreaking love songs with really classic three-part harmonies, like The Andrews Sisters of the 1940's. They're just so good. This is a good live studio session of the song "Blue."

The Living Sisters - Blue - Luxury Wafers Sessions from Luxury Wafers on Vimeo.

Tomorrow, I bid California farewell, but I feel good taking this music back with me to New York.

Equal Vision's Most Underrated Band

It's nice to be greeting you all via html text. I'm excited to start writing for this sweet little project. Kudos to Anthony for asking me to join the good fight.

The Snake The Cross The Crown has been one of my favorite Equal Vision bands for years. I had the great privilege of playing with Franklin, the songwriter and vocalist, at Valentines many moons ago. Upon meeting him, I found myself caught up in the presence of a real profound artist. He was just one of those people that's hard to forget. Notably so, especially after six or eight PBR's, which he clearly had no problem sharing.

The band has been underappreciated in my book since the beginning. Don't get me wrong, they have toured with a lot of great bands like mewithoutYou and some other modern-day-indie-giants, but are yet to really capitalize on the folk / americana crowd that they so clearly belong in. After their release of Cotton Teeth in 2007 (a great album) they dropped off the map for a little bit. It was announced in September 2009, however, that they were going to be the subject of a documentary called On A Carousel of Sound, We Go Round - filmed by Nicholas Kleczewski. This is a video off of that Documentary. The song is called "In Time." Although it's not their best work in my opinion, it has a real nice mix of classic folk song chord structure and melody with a bit of experimental, indie nuances. I've also added another live video of "The Great American Smokeout," one of my favorite track of of Cotton Teeth. Cheers!

This Frontier Needs Heros

So happy that Caroline Corrigan signed on to help me with this.

        This band reminds me what I love so much about the genres showcased on this blog. The structured lyrics, simple guitar chords, accessible melodies which don’t require a voice like Mike Rowe (Yes he was a professional opera singer, but read his quote on why here) to sing along. I think this band is a really good example.

        A brother and sister duo, Brad and Jessica Lauretti put together an amazing catalogue of quality songs. I can definitely see these two just lounging around with their friends, strumming on a guitar, and randomly breaking out one of their gems.







This Frontier Needs Heros Myspace

Paradise

This is my first post for OurFolk, and I'm pumped to contribute with Tony on this project! I will likely be adding a bit of a female influence to the blog, and paying tribute to old school Americana heroes like Texas Gladden, Hank Williams and Patsy Cline.

"Paradise" is probably my favorite song by Jenny Lewis, but it's unfortunately unreleased anywhere besides this 7" split with low-fi country folk girl club The Whispertown 2000. (Look out for a video from them on here soon!) I have this vinyl, if you'd like to come over and have a listen, I'll make tea as our hearts melt.

One Gallant?

Adam Stephens, 1/2 of Two Gallants, released a solo album called Vile Affections. If you are a fan of Two Gallants you will enjoy this six song EP, if you are not a fan of Two Gallants you will not like these tunes. Simple as that. Stephens uses the familiar method of parallel vocal and instrumental melodies that were used so well in Two Gallants. This makes all the melodies seem familiar to Two Gallants' songs and only on the last track, “Going to Germany” does he break out a refreshing note. The album itself is very minimalistic and much tamer than a Two Gallant album.

3 out of 6 on the EP...






Adam Stephens Myspace

The Tallest Man on Earth

 Kristian Matsson from Dalarna, Sweden is The Tallest Man on Earth. Solid fingerpicking guitar and familiar melodies supported by Matsson's "Dylanesque" (in this case, I feel no shame saying that) scratchy voice and delivery. New album to be released April 13th, 2010 on Dead Oceans


2009.09.09 Tallest Man on Earth, Bardens Boudoir (Honey, Let Me in) from Tim Ferguson on Vimeo.


The Tallest Man on Earth Myspace

Ferraby Lionheart

Ferraby Lionheart's new record "The Jack of Hearts" is now out. Ferraby is an amazing singer/songwriter who can craft catchy folk harmonies into classic folk story-telling songs. Take a listen to his new stuff... Then take a listen to his old stuff...

Ferraby's Myspace with three new songs: Harry and the Bess, Yellow Wings, Arkansas



Album Promo No.2 from Ferraby Lionheart on Vimeo.


Tickets to Crickets from his LP "Catch the Brass Ring"


Crack in Time from his EP in 2006.

Blind Pilot

Found this video the other day at Laundromatinee.com. Blind Pilot is one of my favorite bands and this is why. Really accesible mellow folk instrumental and melodies. Lyrics are not mind blowing which allows for the listener to just drift with the jams.

Blind Pilot - Two Towns From Me from LaundroMatinee on Vimeo.


Blind Pilot Myspace

Treetop Flyers (UK)

Awesome outfit from across the pond. Saw them live with Deer Tick at The Windmill. Melodies are classic Americana structure with four part harmonies and the whole nine yards. Guitar work is amazing, Sam Beer really gets after it. Enjoy...




Treetop Flyers Myspace

Tall Tales and the Silver Lining

Trevor Beld (also of Franklin for Short) leads this cast of Californians. His simple folk guitar structures coupled with mellow melodies really capture what, to someone from the North East, California seems to be all about. Supposedly they came out with a new album this month (3/2010).





Fan created video. The creator has multiple other videos created using the same technique. Check her out... TwoKaleidoscopeEyes Youtube.


Songs from the Window Series



Tall Tales and the Silver Lining Myspace

Papermoons

Papermoons-Lazy Bones from Jordan Welker on Vimeo.

Papermoon's myspace

Amazing band from Houston, Texas. Perfect marriage of classic indie lyrics with an alt-country sound.

-AB