Categories
2010 releases

Syd and Hotels and Highways

So, it’s been, by my reckoning, about 10 years since I first stumbled across Syd‘s stuff. I know that definitely it’s definitely been at least 8 years since his “Week Days, Weak Knees” EP came out, but I’m pretty sure I’d heard his stuff prior, with a killer live cover of Blink-182’s “Dammit”.

“Picking Up the Pieces”, from Syd’s “Week Days, Weak Knees”

Regardless, what I’m getting at is: it’s been a while. And sure, like any relationship lasting that long we’ve wandered. Our musical tastes seemed to change as we grew, and grew apart in a lot of ways. While “Upswing” (Syd’s last album, from 2009) was definitely a slick album in its own right, it just wasn’t really for me. To be honest, I think the last album I could get behind 100% was his 2004 album, “Fault Lines”.

“The Bottom”, from Syd’s “Fault Lines”

But such was the power of those first few years together that I’ve still kept a keen eye on what Syd’s up to. So it was with much interest that I saw that Syd, along with Patrick Thomas and Lisa Piccirillo (all members of the Co-Op, which in itself is a beautiful concept) had formed a band called Hotels and Highways; and not only had they formed the band, but they’d already recorded their first album.

This fall, we decided to spurn the real world and disappear into a cabin in upstate New York with our music machines and recording gear – no hourly rates, no deadlines and no preconceptions.

The result, an album we are calling “Lost River,” is a perfect representation of creation in its rawest form. Words were grabbed from the air as fast as the changes were decided and everything was recorded as it was written. In addition to the inherent energy of this in-the-moment recording style, we feel there is as much soul in these simple songs as anything we have released before.

– From the band’s Kickstarter page

So here’s the thing… the band are looking for some help in getting the thing released, and as such they’re using Kickstarter to raise funds so that they can mix, master, produce and promote the album themselves.


Now, I know that I say Syd and I have parted ways in our musical lives over the last couple of years. But the tune that plays in their Kickstarter video (apparently called “Night Song”, according to Syd) is possibly a homecoming of sorts for us. And I’m so friggin’ excited about that, I could spit. (Actually, I’ve never really understood that saying, but it’s true nonetheless). Watch the vid below…

 

How beautiful does that track sound? Man, I am absolutely swooning (and more than a little frustrated that I can’t hear more…)
And above all, it’s no longer music for the teenage me (as you’ve probably guessed the above two tracks were)… rather, this is music that I’ve grown up to hear.


So here’s what I have to say: Syd – and the rest of the guys in the Co-Op – embody the very spirit of camaraderie in music. Seriously. The amount of times I’ve seen the guy help someone out on twitter or online is ridiculous. Heck, he even gave me some design tips back when I was helping Alex Dezen launch the Damnwells site. And I’d say it’s about time the dude got some awesome karma back.

So, if you want to support music and real musicians, then why not consider contributing towards the band’s Kickstarter fund? You’ll not only be helping out a bunch of super-nice people, but you just might reunite me with a musical love. Oh… and you can get the album for your donation above $10 too.

So go on.

Categories
2010 releases

Ryan Adams Double Album – III/IV

If you’ve read this blog before, chances are you already know of my love for Ryan Adams. The dude is arguably my most important musical influence of all time, and has soundtracked… well, a lot of my life. So it shouldn’t come as any surprise just how freakin’ excited I am about the latest post on his PAX•AM Records site.

“In 2007 Ryan Adams and the Cardinals entered Electric LandLady studios on 8th street in NYC and went in for a session intended to last two weeks. Six months and over 60 tracks later, they emerged with the album Easy Tiger. But it was only glimpse into the depth of the work the band had undertaken and the vast amount of material that was recorded.

As the sessions wound around into the deep winter months a double album emerged, a rock record that felt more like a hybrid of all the records that the band had mutually consumed as kids… from influences as wide as KISS and The Cars.

Originally hidden away in the vault while the band hit the road to support Easy Tiger, and now for the first time here in its entirety is the Cardinals second double-album concept rock opera about the 80′s, ninjas, cigarettes, sex, and pizza.

Enjoy Volume III/IV. by Ryan Adams and The Cardinals, from the turning point in the classic line up of the band featuring…. Catherine Popper on bass (her last with the band), Neal Casal on guitar and vocals ( his first with the band) Brad Pemberton on the drums, Jon Graboff on the Steel Guitar ( as well as a few other things ) and Jamie “The candyman” Candiloro on piano and synths, here producing again as well.

First off, Easy Tiger is, I think, my favourite Ryan Adams album (it made #3 in my “Albums of the Decade” list). So the fact that these tracks come from that same session absolutely makes me giddy. Secondly… Catherine freakin’ Popper?! Hell yeah.

Finally, this (long) excerpt from Jamie Candiloro sums up everything that I’m excited about. This release could be everything we all know Ryan can be…

“In the summer of 2006 I was watching some of my favorite PBS afternoon programming when I got a call on my cell phone from electric lady studios. “We’re down here and I think we might need your help.” It was Ryan calling after a somewhat fiery end to a session we had completed a couple months ago and left us with zero tracks accepted by lost highway again. The great moments of these sessions always out numbered the hard times, which kept me interested in making music with him. This session was different from the start though. He had just gotten sober for the first time since he was 15 years old.

We would spend the next six months in the studio. It was almost like this floodgate had opened. New songs were coming quickly and the quality and diversity was pretty amazing. We were doing demos, cutting live versions, finishing overdubs. There was a level of completion that was not possible with the “fucked up ryan”. All this talent was there and able to shine thru in a way I had always imagined.

[…]

Probably the thing I remember most about these session was a chart system that we used on the back wall of electric lady to keep track of things. It had album titles and song names with the song’s progress. I think at one point we had four albums and even a b-sides list! We were constantly moving songs around to find the perfect sequence. One album that started to form seemed like a bit of a folk record to me. It was around thanksgiving that I presented a cd that was essentially the cuts that would become “easy tiger”. My version had sixteen songs though! Another record that was at the front of our attention was something Ryan called vol. 3 & 4. The idea being that “cold roses” was vol 1 & 2 and this was a logical step that the cardinals had taken forward as a band effort. The tracks shared the democratic process of a band, which always gives a record more depth to me. The personalities really shine thru.

[…]

There was always the idea that these recordings would come out at some point. When this became a reality in 2010, my first instinct was to use the mixes from the sessions. They were flawed but the were done in the heat of the moment. The mixes were a “performance” to get the band excited at that moment. But Ryan felt they could really be “mixed”. Seeing as we had the originals to compare, I figured we were safe to give a couple a try and see how they were coming out. I was really happy when we did listen back to new mixes we were shocked how timeless they sounded. For me it had a lot to do with the performances. Everything was so raw but captured pretty well so a tight mix just sounded out of this world. There were no click tracks and the material was arranged meticulously. The final result was something that fans will really enjoy. Vol 3 & 4 is like a huge billboard rising above the château marmont. Bigger than life and glossy, with a spotlight cutting thru the haze. I never got sick of working on these tracks and I know the fans will not get tired of hearing them…”

This is me, just freakin’ excited out of my mind. Listen to some teasers of the tracks here, and if you’re looking to read a few more of my thoughts on Ryan, I’d suggest you start by clicking on a few of those “Related Posts” down below.

Categories
2010 releases music videos

The Tallest Man on Earth – “Love Is All” [VIDEO]

Like a house made from spider webs and the clouds rolling in
I bet this mighty river’s both my savior and my sin
Oh, my savior and my sin
– The Tallest Man On Earth, “Love Is All”

It’s been quite some time since I originally wrote about Kristian Matsson, aka The Tallest Man on Earth on this blog. In fact, it was over two years ago. In the intervening time, I’ve probably only written about the guy a handful of times… but something about this video inspired me to post again.

Below is the official music video for “Love Is All”, a track found on Kristian’s “The Wild Hunt” LP that was released earlier this year.
Quite frankly, I’m just posting this because the video and tune are beautiful, and I wanted to share that with you.

Categories
2010 releases music videos

The National – Terrible Love (Alternate Version)

Proving yet again that the Berninger brothers are far more talented than any human beings should realistically be, The National have just released the video for “Terrible Love (Alternate Version)”, both filmed and directed by Tom Berninger, brother to the enigmatic frontman Matt. (thanks Shelagh P for the correction in the original post)

Shot both onstage and backstage at various live shows over the last year, the video offers an intimate look at the band… and does a pretty good job capturing not only the band’s intensity, but also the pure emotion they inspire.

‘Terrible Love’ is released as a violet-coloured 7″ and download single on Monday 22nd November, along with the expanded edition of High Violet.

Categories
2010 releases artists to watch for in 2011 music

Matthew and the Atlas – I Will Remain

There comes a time in every man’s life where he needs to truly admit that he’s reached that particular age when the banjo is undeniably, incontrovertibly his most favourite instrument. And, if any band could convince you of that moment, it could be Matthew and the Atlas.

Matthew and the Atlas – otherwise known as Matthew Hegarty, Lindsay West, Dave Millar, Thomas Field and Harrison Cargill – are yet another product of jams at the Notting Hill Arts Club, putting them in the same company as Laura Marling, Noah and The Whale, and Mumford & Sons. In other words, if you judge someone by the company they keep, Matthew and the Atlas are damn well positioned for a wider breakthrough.

Hegarty has that kind of Ray Lamontagne/Glen Hansard/Nick Drake voice that just immediately sucks you in and unfolds a story in your head far bigger than your skull should be able to hold. And the band just plays so… organically, it’s like music that you’ve been waiting to hear.

The below track (like the above video) comes from Matthew And The Atlas’ “To The North EP”, and it’s one of my favourite tunes of 2010. “I Will Remain” has a wistful quality that is more genuine than anything I’ve heard in quite some time. It’s the type of song that was made for whiskey and faded jeans.

Listen: Matthew and the Atlas – I Will Remain

Matthew and the Atlas’ new EP, “Kingdom of Your Own”, is out on November 1, and can be pre-ordered here. And, if you simply can’t wait, you can download another track of theirs, “Deadwood”, for free here (well, for the price of your email address).

Categories
2010 releases

The New Twitter Video Song – Freelance Whales

You know, ever since the new twitter was released, a lot of people have been asking me if I’ve heard “that awesome new Twitter video tune… do you know who it is?”.

Well, yes. Yes, I do, actually. And actually, it’s reached the point where I’ve been asked so many times now, that I thought I would throw up this post. So if you reached this page looking for the answer, here it is:

The music used in the New Twitter video is a tune from kickass Queens, New York band: Freelance Whales.

(geddit? why twitter picked them? go on… freelance whales? twitter? fail whale? well, I found it a good choice anyway).


Freelance Whales are like some tightwire mixture of Death Cab/Postal Service/Sufjan, while somehow managing to not slip into the “Owl City” perils. And really, while I’m yet to see them reach the heights of “Hannah” or “Generator” again, you should try and get into them, ok?

The song in the Twitter vid is Freelance Whales’ track, “Generator ^ First Floor”, which can be found on their “Weathervanes” release, which actually came out earlier this year, via the Frenchkiss label.

I’ve embedded their “Weathervanes” widget below. Happy listening, you twitter lovers.

Categories
2010 releases artists to watch for in 2011

The Mariner’s Children – It Carved Your Name Into The Ground

The Mariner’s Children are one of those happy finds that you just manage to stumble across, you know? I was trying out the Facebook page browse function (warning: time waster!) and came across a page with an interesting name: The Mariner’s Children.

After clicking through, there was a video posted to the wall that absolutely blew me away. A live recording of “Golden Pine”, the string interplay and slow-burn of a start had me hooked right away.

Looking into the band a bit more, it turns out they’re releasing a new EP called “New Moore Island” on 1 November, and giving away a track from the EP, called “It Carved Your Name Into The Ground”.

And damned if it isn’t awesome.

It’s got that same kind of foot-stamping rhythm that Mumford and Sons have made so popular, but there’s something more… I don’t know, freeform about it? It’s relentless, but at the same time, wild.

In other words, it’s exactly my kind of tune.
Listen. Love. Support.

Listen: The Mariner’s Children – It Carved Your Name Into The Ground

“New Moore Island” is out November 1.

Categories
2010 releases music

Donovan Woods – Let Go Lightly

Donovan Woods

There’s something so damn familiar about Donovan Woods voice. I’m not sure what it is… I mean, it’s more than the fact that the guy sounds like Jeremy Fisher… it’s that the voice is such a comfortable one. It’s the type of voice that you’d have around the campfire with beers, you know?

Anyway, at the beginning of this month, Donovan released his latest LP, “The Widowmaker”. And it’s a whole lot of awesome. Here, as a taster, is a tune off the album, “Let Go Lightly”.

Listen: Donovan Woods – Let Go Lightly

“The Widowmaker” is available for download through iTunes now.