Wanted to let you all know about this month’s Feel Bad For You (FBFY) Mixtape is themed for the acoustic types.  So clearly I am all over this.  I have been contributing for a while now with a bunch of other bloggers, music lovers and all around alt-country types.  This month my submission is a live acoustic version of “Iso-residue” done solo by Will Johnson of Centro-matic and it is awesome.   The stream is embedded below and below even that is what was submitted and by whom.  Our good friend Rockstar Aimz over at the My Aimz is True blog is our illustrious leader and who is corralling us each month – visit her.

So then , 17 acoustic tracks for your Sunday listening, enjoy!

1. Title: Stagolee
Artist: Beck
Album (year): Avalon Blues: A Tribute To Mississippi John Hurt (2001)
Submitted By: noteethleroy
Comments: I wish Beck would do more simple stuff, he’s damn good at it.

2. Title: Sun Comes Up, It’s Tuesday Morning
Artist: Cowboy Junkies
Album (year): Acoustic Junk (2009)
Submitted By: erschen

3. Title: American Tune
Artist: Darrell Scott (Paul Simon)
Album (year): Modern Hymns (2008)
Submitted By: @philnorman
Comments: One of my favorite Paul Simon songs, covered by one of my favorite singer-songwriters. A song that never fails to touch my soul.

4. Title: Black Mother Pray
Artist: Tarrus Riley
Album (year): Mecoustic (2012)
Submitted By: tincanman2010
Comments: No-end-to-his-talent young singer’s latest dares you to take a spiritual inventory. More here: http://bit.ly/HOU94Z

5. Title: The Foothills
Artist: Sara Watkins (written by Watkins and Blake Mills)
Album (year): Sun Midnight Sun (2012)
Submitted By: Mando Lines
Comments: Big acoustic instrumental tune, sounds like a movie theme. One of two instrumentals on Watkins’ great new record, which contains a duet with Fiona Apple as well as guest vocals by Jackson Browne and Taylor Goldsmith (Dawes).

6. Title: East Nashville Skyline
Artist: Todd Snider
Album (year): What The Folk – Belcourt Theater – Nashville TN (2005)
Submitted By: toomuchcountry
Comments: This version of ENS is much different than the one Snider included on his Peace, Love & Anarchy release of demos and rarities or that he now performs in his shows. And frankly, I like it better. I was really fortunate to be in the audience the night of this show to hear it. Todd’s show that night capped a great triple-header. Tommy Womack opened and was then followed by Hayes Carll. Todd then took center stage as the headliner and was accompanied by Womack and Jeff Austin of the Yonder Mountain String Band.

7. Title: Stuck on the Inside
Artist: DeepSeaGreen
Album (year): Acoustic Sessions (2011)
Submitted By: @popa2unes
Comments: DeepSeaGreen are a garage-rock band from London formed in late 2008. The four piece is made up of brothers Jon and Daniel Jefford (on guitar and drums respectively), Trent Halliday (vocals, guitar) and Marco Menestrina (bass).

8. Title: Loveless Park
Artist: Jason and Alison
Album (year): Woodshed (1995)
Submitted By: Ryan (Verbow @ altcountrytab.ca)
Comments: Before forming Verbow, Jason Narducy and Alison Chesley played together as an acoustic duo and put out this album. This is one of my favorite songs – simple, beautiful melody that betrays somewhat downer lyrics. Great song.

9. Title: We Can’t Make it Here
Artist: James McMurtry
Album (year): unreleased (2004)
Submitted By: Rockstar Aimz
Comments: I yanked this acoustic version off of McMurtry’s web site a while ago. Very few bands and artists write topical or political songs, and even fewer do it well. McMurtry excels at it, and when all is said and done, this song may be the song that best represents the 2000’s.

10. Title: Iso-Residue (acoustic)
Artist: Will Johnson (Centro-matic)
Album (year): Original on Candidate Waltz (2011)
Submitted By: Slowcoustic
Comments: I always was a big fan of Will Johnson and here he shows he can also take an more upbeat Centro-matic tune and give it the solo Will Johnson acoustic touch. This guy can rarely do wrong acoustically in my books.

11. Title: Anastasia
Artist: Loomer
Album (year): BBC Live Session Track from 2005 (from the Songs of the Wild West Island album 2006)
Submitted By: Simon
Comments: Fell in love with this track when I first heard it and it remains a favourite, it’s a different tempo and mood (and all the better for it in IMHO) than the album version.
Not sure if the band are still together or recording a quick Google revealed little accept a parked website but you can listen to Anastasia and other tracks from the album here http://music.cbc.ca/#/artists/LOOMER and download at eMusic. http://www.emusic.com/listen/#/album/loomer/songs-of-the-wild-west-island/11255770/

12. Title: Question
Artist: The Old 97’s
Album (year): Hit By A Train: The Best Of Old 97′s (2006)
Submitted By: BoogieStudio22
Comments: This one goes out to Laura. I surprised her with ‘the question’ over 22 years ago.

13. Title: Coffee Blues (Live)
Artist: Mississippi John Hurt
Album (year): Salty Dog (orig. 1963, comp. album 2009)
Submitted By: Gorrck
Comments: Acoustic, but with a microphone. Does that still count? I traded the Bluesmobile for a microphone.

14. Title: Broken Man
Artist: Lauderdale
Album (year): Moving On (B Sides/unreleased) (2011)
Submitted By: Corey Flegel – This Is American Music

15. Title: Candy Cane Crawl
Artist: Greg Dulli
Album (year): non-album, live track from 2010 acoustic tour
Submitted By: April @ Now This Sound Is Brave
Comments: Submitting this track on Greg fucking Dulli’s 46th birthday. It’s one of my favorite songs by my favorite artist, containing nearly all the elements that make me love him – the cinematic sweep, the perfectly imperfect vocals, and the knife that cuts my soul right in two and lets all the dirt and light and blood and secret beauty pour right out. He’s accompanied by Dave Roesser on guitar and backing vocals, and Rick Nelson on cello.

16. Title: Goodbye California
Artist: Jolie Holland
Album (year): Escondida (2004)
Submitted By: Brad Kelley
Comments: Jolie Holland was in the Be Good Tanyas, but I only recently discovered her. Love her voice and inflections.

17. Title: Elk River Blues
Artist: Ernie Carpenter
Album (year): Tales of Elk River Country (1986)
Submitted By: Truersound
Comments: The Elk River runs through central WV and was dammed off in 1958 to form Sutton Lake. Ernie Carpenter wrote this tune while sitting on the ridge looking down at Sutton Lake as it covered what used to be his family’s old homeplace. Such powerful emotions from just one fiddle.

~~~

You can find the series over at the website courtesy of A Truer Sound by one simply click HERE.

~Smansmith

Kill County - February 2012 (courtesy of their Facebook page)

If you are a reader of this blog you know that one of the things I really, really, really enjoy is a heartfelt “country” song that has a bit of twang and southern heartland influence.  It also helps if it is acoustic and (more or less) akin to a sad bastard song.  Well, I was pleasantly surprised (re: totally stoked) when the good folks at Hear Nebraska led me to a recent performance from one of Kill County’s driving forces, Ringo over in Michigan at WCBN 88.3.  See Hear Nebraska’s post here with a bit more info on the band’s current situation and for the full SoundCloud stream of all 5 tracks.

As HN alludes and Ringo himself indicated to me, the follow up to 2010′s fantastic “The Year of Getting By” is well on its way for this year and will be another vinyl release!  If these songs are a sign of the new album, count yours truly in for a spot at the front of that line when it comes out.  Listen to a few tracks courtesy of Hear Nebraska’s SoundCloud account below.

Seek out more on Kill County: Bandcamp | Facebook

~Smansmith

I mentioned this about a week ago and now here we are!  We will be giving away a copy of the 7″ split from Kill County and Good Saints to one of you fine blog readers.  I know it is 2012 and attention spans are getting shorter, but all I ask is you email me the name of the Kill County full length album from 2010 along with your address!  I will pick one email at random (no really, totally random) and send you a copy of the coloured vinyl!  Also included is a Kill County sticker and pin from the band aaaaand the cover is signed by the boys too!  So you know you want it – I know I am loving it (was going to give away 2 copies, but I just can’t part with one).

So now, email me the name of the Kill County album from 2010 to admin [at] slowcoustic [dot] com along with your mailing address and you may win this lovely prize.  So listen to “BrownLee” and “Texas Moan” below while formulating your email…

[UPDATE] – We have a winner – thank you to everyone who entered!

~

~~

Visit Kill County: Bandcamp <— you just might find the answer to win here | Facebook
Visit Good Saints: Bandcamp | Facebook

~Smansmith

I love the internet.  Forget penicillin, democracy and individually packaged mini donuts – the internet makes the world better.

Obviously I am thankful for the internet in my recent discovery of the band Good Saints out of Lexington, Kentucky.  The internet lead me to a favourite Nebraskan band Kill County due to a new split 7″ they did with some other band named…yes, you guessed it, Good Saints.  Well I obviously ordered me up some of this vinyl split, cuz you gotta and then I started listening to the Good Saints EP ‘Driftwood on the Fire’ as well.  Low and behold being a fan of Kill County has pretty much put me on the right path to find similar acts like GS to fawn over.

Good Saints can be considered ‘Country’ as much as any acoustic band can be called ‘Folk’ – it is the general vibe you get but it always seems like not enough of a word to describe it.  This is part bluesy banjo, part gothic South, part twang at 3/4 speed tossed around a skillet and served up with perfect presentation.  While I have been listening to the track from the aforementioned split 7″ entitled “Texas Moan” (and it is spectacular), there is another 5 tracks to the EP that carry on the “unique lyric focused 5 piece band”.  Multiple vocalists provide additional layers and facets of the music as well…which is saying something as sometimes having more than one singer in a band can cause a split in fans but not here – it works all around.  The songs all lament of hazy evenings, good times, hard times and drip with the timeless drawl of great southern music.  Best New Country.

So take a listen to a couple tracks below;

~

~

So remember that sometime in the very near future (week or so) we will be giving away the split 7″ of Good Saints/Kill County to one of you Slowcoustic readers.  Stay tuned on getting your free copy of the below!

Good Saints / Kill County 7" Split

Find out more on Good Saints: Bandcamp | Facebook

~Smansmith

As I didn’t have a specific reason to post today, I thought I would share some tracks that have been spinning on a regular basis while at home, at work and in the car.  I make massive amounts of personal playlists as I have a fairly long commute and I cannot stand being at work with only the sound of buzzing fluorescent lights.  So what am I saying?  Feel free to send me suggestions in the comments or even tweet at me on the twitters with any suggestions.

~~

Nice split 7″ now out from Kill County (with Good Saints) and I like it soo much we will be giving away a copy of it in the next 1-2 weeks, so keep an eye out here for that give-away.  Ever since their fantastic “The Year of Getting By” these Nebraskans have been on the center of my radar – this track “Brown Lee” is another reason why.

~~

While we are putting out Tyler Butler’s Winter King re-release in a few weeks at Yer Bird Records – I don’t want ya to forget about this little gem that has seen some repeated listens in the last week.  From his ‘Feral Horse‘ release in early 2010 continues to show the stark beauty in Butler’s songs.  Don’t miss this one.

~~

Jonas David was mentioned to me from April over at Common Folk Music and I am finally getting to listen to it – very nice moments of acoustic jams along with a bit of full band mixed in for good measure.  It really excels in the quieter tracks like “Let Me Live” above so check out Jonas David as this is another German who knows his stuff.

~~

Tim Showalter is now teasing us with a track before he digs into new music for Strand of Oaks.  This time we get the Weathervane Music helmed Shaking Through session with his track ‘Spacestations’.  There is a whole feature via Shaking Through and well worth a watch and it is a free download too!

~~

That is all for now, but I will be starting this type of post more often in order to get more music recommendations out to y’all.  Enjoy!

~Smansmith

Not much to say here as I literally just started listening to Mr. Willy Tea Taylor about 5 days ago.  Thanks to the heads up from my good friends The Sumner Brothers on this true country crooner.   The voice, the look and the down home warmth you get from listening (even if they aren’t the sunniest of subject matter) is a breath of fresh air.  Despite often getting lost in gritty country tunes, sometimes you need a bit of good ol’ boy mixed in with your whisky.  Just sayin’.

Take a listen to a couple of tracks from his ’4 Strings’ album that came out last year below.  “Life is Beautiful” is what you expect and an amazing country ballad of country life & love.  Also, for a bit of context on this album I included the lead off track ‘Bones’ that gives me a strong Tallest Man on Earth vibe…and we all know we like that around here.

~

Please swing by and take a listen to the album on his Bandcamp page and for more info you can visit his website HERE.

~Smansmith

So the other day my close personal friends The Deep Dark Woods (don’t you know all Canadians know each other?) posted on their website and social outlets about a live download they are giving away.  Well after I feigned hipster nonchalance I casually grabbed a copy of it…I mean whatever…might as well…

Okay, so honestly I was excited and rightfully so.  The download is 8 tracks and does a great job of spanning their discography and shows a range from uptempo jams (of which their live show is known for) and their amazing downtempo balladeer tracks.  The recording is from the Birchmere out in Alexandria, Virginia from January 19, 2012.  I thought I would do you all the favour and send you in their direction to pick it up and give you some sampling below.  You can find it on their website HERE and it is also where the photo atop this post and the banner image on the front page is from.

I have chosen 3 tracks for y’all to sample as each one is from a different album and all stand out.  I have also done you the favour of giving them a slight gain in volume and ever so slight cropping of the tracks with fades…because I love you all.  Now listen and go and grab the whole set from these good ol’ Saskatchewan folks.

“Hang Me, Oh Hang Me (Live at the Birchmere)”
~from ‘Hang Me, Oh Hang Me (2007)’ – Purchase
~
“All the Money I Had is Gone (Live at the Birchmere)”
~from ‘Winter Hours (2009)’ – Purchase
~
“The Place I Left Behind (Live at the Birchmere)”
~from ‘The Place I Left Behind (2011)’ – Purchase

Enjoy your Saturday and simply pretend you are ‘Live at the Birchmere’ out in Virginia if even for a few minutes.

~Smansmith

The Sumner Brothers - photo by Nate Lepp

Recently I received the December newsletter from The Sumner Brothers (sign up on their website here) and for the last bit they have been coming with a new cover song each month.  Well, to be honest they have been absolutely stellar.  Some Cash, some Haggard and even some Waits.  Well this December came a great track originally from Airon Dugas (or A.P. Dugas as he records under…I believe) called “Old Skin”.  It was recorded essentially solo from Brian Sumner and it has floored me lately, it is that good.  While I have been a fan of the Sumner Brothers for years, Dugas is new to me from the last month or so.

A.P. Dugas - photo by Kristin Dione Photography

So, after telling you that the most recent cover song is that good, I am not posting it.  I’m a bastard that way.  Sign up for the newsletter and get it free – I ain’t stealing music from musicians…I’m a blogger!  ;-)  No seriously – both A.P. Dugas and The Sumners have been on serious repeat lately after hearing that cover song, so I thought I would throw a few tracks at ya to get you on board.

Tomorrow Wendy by A.P. Dugas by Pluckluck Seattle
~
Lose Your Mind by Bob Sumner by Pluckluck Seattle
~
09 Ticket to Ride by thesumnerbrothers
~
A.P. Dugas – Old Skin by For The Sake Of The Song
~

Bonus is the video for Carolina from A.P. Dugas that I found about a week or so ago via The Sumner Brothers Facebook page.  Soo good.

So class, what are you listening to?  That is right – The Sumners and Airon Dugas.  Thank you.

Visit The Sumner Brothers: Website, Facebook & Twitter
Visit A.P. Dugas: MySpace (sorry, not too much on Dugas…yet)

~Smansmith

p.s.  If you haven’t heard the Sumner Brothers cover Townes Van Zandt’s “Colorado Girl” you are in for a treat.  Visit HearYa who posted it a while back right here.

This track has seriously been on repeat for about 2 weeks and qualifies for “Best New Music” already. You know him, but do you know him as a “solo artist”?  Ryan Boldt of The Deep Dark Woods looses none of the prairie roots magic with his own material in comparison to the DDWs.

The track is “Mary Hamilton’s Last Goodnight” and is a spectacularly slow and waning Canadiana track.  The signature vocals of Boldt that immediately bring you to those achingly beautiful tracks from his day job as lead of the Saskatchewan indie heroes The Deep Dark Woods.  I apologize for consistently mentioning the band as this track stands alone as proof of Boldt as a solo artist (even if he isn’t one).  Thanks again to Zachary Lucky & the Prairie Roots Revue for bringing this recording to my attention.  Everyone, enjoy your new favourite track, “Mary Hamilton’s Last Goodnight”.

Follow Ryan Boldt on Facebook and follow on Twitter already!  You can also find The Deep Dark Woods and their newest album (our #3 album of 2011) “The Place I Left Behind” HERE.

~Smansmith

The numbering (as most year end list makers will indicate) is pretty accurate but each album had definitely fluctuated over the course of the year but overall they can easily settle at a +/- 3 spots.  So let’s get started!

~Slowcoustic’s Favourite Albums of 2011~

12.  Mount Moriah – Mount Moriah

~~

11.  South of Lincoln (now The Great American Desert) – Homes

Man, Pt. I by South of Lincoln

~~

10.  Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy – Wolfroy Goes To Town

~~

9.  Bon Iver, Bon Iver

“Calgary”

~~

8.  William Elliott Whitmore – Field Songs

William Elliott Whitmore – Field Song by antirecords

~~

7.  Chris Bathgate – Salt Year

“Salt Year”

~~

6.  Frederick Squire – Sings Shenandoah and Other Popular Hits

“All Things Past Serve To Guide You On Your Way”

~~

5.  Tyler Butler – Winter King

“Morana”

~~

4.  Dolorean – The Unfazed

Dolorean – Country Clutter by Fargo Records

~~

3.  The Deep Dark Woods – The Place I Left Behind

West Side Street by The Deep Dark Woods

~~

2.  Jeffrey Foucault – Horse Latitudes

“Goners Most”

~~

1.  Josh T. Pearson – Last of the Country Gentlemen

Josh T. Pearson – Woman, When I’ve Raised Hell (Alternative Version) by Mute UK

~~

There you have it.  Now…discuss!

~Smansmith

Just a quick one today as I have been a bit ‘meh’ lately on getting my bloggin on.  One thing that recently got me out of my funk (or is getting me out of my funk) is the series of Sunday live performances in Vancouver arranged by Slowcoustic favourites The Sumner Brothers.  For The Sake Of The Song Sundays is my kind of gig, if you are in the area this weekend, you should go.  Stripmall Ballads will be playing for Christ’s sake (pun intended).

Listen to a free download from the new Stripmall Ballads website: “Blue Flavored Gatorade”

Also as a bonus and proof of the amazing talent hitting these shows – listen to the below and be blown away.

A.P. Dugas – Old Skin by For The Sake Of The Song
~
Ben Rogers – Cowboys and Indians by For The Sake Of The Song
~

Find out more on the events by following them/liking them on Facebook here: For The Sake Of The Song.

~Smansmith

There just might be a bit of West Texas in all of us, it is just a lot more front and center with Caleb Coy.

Caleb Coy announced a new Kickstarter campaign to fund his next album just yesterday.  If you are interested in great lo-fi (or maybe not so ‘lo-fi’ for the upcoming album) folk country, then this is your chance to get in on the ground floor.  Its an ambitious endeavor to get recording time, vinyl pressings and essentially a full package album (with PR) made these days and in exchange of being part of the process, you can make it actually happen!  I guess that is the idea behind it, you are donating to get the rewards of great music…its pretty simply really.  Visit the campaign HERE.  Watch the video below.

Take a listen to one of my favourites from his Yer Bird Records released album “Wild Desert Rose”, the track “Rambler’s Lament”.

~Smansmith

Possibly the one song to sum up Ryan Adams to me is “Come Pick Me Up” when it is done solo acoustic. The song is a total sad bastard song done the way I like it.  Mostly because it has:

•  A poor bastard getting fucked over as subject matter
• Harmonica
• Uncontrollably catchy hooks (but in a good way)
• Hushed acoustic /strummed acoustic guitar
• Harmonica
• A chorus that endears the singer/protagonist while embarrassing anyone around you as you sing it aloud in public.
• Harmonica

Well I thought I would share a recent discovery from his current/recent tour to promote his new album Ashes & Fire.  The recording is from a stop in Denver this past September and the good folks at ‘That’s The Thing About That’ Blog had recorded and offered the complete show for a free download.  It is a fantastic recording and Adams did not disappoint – he played & sounded great and actually played a perfect selection of tracks.  See the original post HERE with links to download in mp3 and FLAC formats.

I actually found this recording via ‘I Am Fuel, You Are Friends’ blog as she conveniently uploaded each track individually and is also hosting the complete show if you have any problems with the original downloads linked above.  See her post HERE.

Without further adieu, your song of the day;

“Come Pick Me Up (Live in Denver)” – Ryan Adams, Live in Denver, CO 2011-09-15

~Smansmith

I’ve been keeping my eye on Ryan Tanner ever since he floored me with his great cover of ‘Goodbye’ from Steve Earle – it ended up being song of the week as song of the day just wasn’t doing it justice.  Well I realized that he just released an EP of acoustic tracks just this week!  The EP is very reminiscent of early Ryan Adams or at least of the sound that made Ryan Adams an ‘alt-country’ darling.  These tracks are fully acoustic (aptly named EP then…) and are gorgeous slices of life via Tanner’s penchant for writing great songs.

While I have heard two of the 8 tracks previously, the other 6 solidified that I will be continuing my stalking of his output in the years to come.  The two songs below are great sad bastard songs, ‘Mama, Please Don’t Give Up On Me’ & ‘Salt Lake City Rain’ and speak to the weight of this EP (a pretty lengthy EP at that coming in at almost 32 minutes).  The songs are hushed, the vocals soft and waning at times and combined to the casual acoustic strumming, you are forced to slow down immediately…and in fact feel the urge to stop fully and listen.  You should listen…now.

~

Swing by and visit Ryan and pick up this recommended EP today on his Bandcamp page.  Visit him on his Website and follow on Twitter.

BONUS: ‘Goodbye (Steve Earle Cover)”

~Smansmith

Just pre-ordered my vinyl & T-Shirt combo for the new album via their Bandcamp – go here and get it too!

~~

This Owen track is EXACTLY how I hear his music.  This is like a greatest hits for Owen turned into a one-track anthem.

~~

Triggertown’s “TT” album is a FREE download via their Bandcamp page (here) and it includes some great tracks – I specifically love the waning violin matched to the pedal steel  in this track.  Soo good.

~~

You’re Almost There by Lanterns on the Lake

Lanterns on the Lake are about to release their new album on Sept. 19th and I have always kind of been partial to the spacey mellowed out beauty in their sound.  The new album is no different and provides it in spades.  MP3 download: “You’re Almost There”

~~

So enjoy your Saturday with a cross section of some music that could quite neatly fit into one corner of the box that is Slowcoustic.

~Smansmith

(photo by Nick Wilkes)

Many do it.  Many will continue to do it.  Many don’t do it this well.  Covering Neil Young is almost a staple of any Country/Folk/Americana artist, but it isn’t something to take lightly.  It is all too easy to jam a cover and release it to the masses – we all know we are a blogger-coversong-world these days.  It just usually isn’t done where you feel like an artist borrows from another and if you didn’t know that little fact, that the song could be their own.

“Albuquerque (Neil Young Cover)” – Jeffrey Foucault – Signature Sounds Studio June 2011

Visit Jeffrey Foucault on his Website.
Purchase his stellar new album “Horse Latitudes” here.

~Smansmith

Just thinking about this album today as they are announcing the long list for the Polaris Prize today (keep an eye out here).  If you are unaware, the 2011 Polaris Prize is the ‘best’ Canadian album to be released between June 2010 and May 2011 as chosen by music editors, sites, critics in Canada.  Slowcoustic is considered one of those Canadian music types and I voted for my favourite albums and this band may have been among the list….I ain’t gonna tell.

One Hundred Dollars new album “Songs of Man” is a strong contender for reaching at least the long list of the Polaris, but unfortunately I don’t see a more country/roots type band winning for some reason.  All I can say is that I hope that the whole process isn’t just an exercise in voting Arcade Fire for the top spot (despite it being a good album as well).  Lets all hope we see $100 represented today on the announcement for the competition to Canada’s ‘best’ album of the 2010/2011 season.  That is all I am going to say on this subject (at this time).  ;-)

One Hundred Dollars’ ‘Songs of Man’: While you can expect a bit of a country experience from One Hundred Dollars, you also get a bit of retro rock, folky moments all mixed together into a rambling rootsy album.  This may sound wishy washy and almost a bit thrown together, but it isn’t – it feels quite well assembled in all reality.  If a slightly tamer Janis Joplin decided to become an outlaw country act, then One Hundred Dollars should be on your listening “long list”.

Enjoy Black Gold as your song of the day:

“Black Gold” from One Hundred Dollars album “Songs Of Man”

Find more/purchase: Website, Outside Music, Facebook and Zunior (purchase).

~Smansmith

“In late August, I’ll be heading to Iowa City to work with legendary producer Bo Ramsey (http://www.boramsey.com/), who has worked with folks like Lucinda Williams, Greg Brown, Jeffrey Foucault, Calexico, Pieta Brown, and The Pines. Not only will he be producing the record, but he will also be playing guitar throughout. Bo Ramsey is a badass. I am pumped.”

I believe in the talent in this snowboarding, guitar lesson giving troubadour and so should you.  His most recent album “Ghost Towns” and follow up “Budapest Sessions” EP are both excellent additions to any fan of the singer songwriter genre.  For an example of the music and specifically during the Kickstarter campaign, John is offering up some free live tracks along the way, 1 each week on a rotating basis I think.  The first is up and it is the track ‘Baltimore’ recorded just this past May at a show in Denver.  Listen below:

~
Bonus: a track from each of the previously mentioned releases that are available (among all his albums) on his Bandcamp page.

~

Please be generous or just spread the word – much ‘preciated.

Find more on John Statz:
- Facebook
- Last.FM
- ReverbNation
- Twitter

~Smansmith

This is a collection of things that I am simply posting as they are frickin’ good and I think more people need to join in on the fun.  These artists aren’t related in any way (as far as I know), but I tend to put them in the same boat or for you mix-tapers, they would make good artists for the same playlist.  Some of this is new, some isn’t but its some good ‘alt-country’/singer songwriter/troubadour type stuff.  I said it was good right?

• Theodore has a new EP “Blood Signs” that kinda came in under the radar as I had absolutely no idea.  See their artist page and purchase on Misra Records here.  For a sample, visit the “I Went To A Show” blog for an interview with the band and the free track “All I Ask” from the EP – its a slow burning to full on rock ballad, and its fantastic.  Listen to a stream of “Abilene” from the EP on a recent trip to KDHX in St. Louis as well below.
  Theodore “Abilene” Live at KDHX 5/18/11 by KDHX
• One of my favourite bands in the last few months is Kill County and their amazing 2010 album “The Year of Getting By” (see a quick post here).  This album would have been on my best of list in 2010 if I had actually known about it then – yes, I’m kicking myself now.  I thought you might need a quick push to listen to these guys with a couple of tracks from their previous album State Line (which is a free download on their Bandcamp page here).  This is some of the best slowed down, torch song country tunes you will find.
  ~ “Three Bullets”
  ~ “Of Roads and Streets”
• Will Johnson (of Centro-matic and South San Gabriel fame) has a new acoustic EP out on Undertow Records called “Little Raider” and it is a great listen.  It is the kind of release that will easily be a favourite EP of 2011 and would easily fall onto a favourite album of this year list with 4-5 more songs as simply filler.   Admittedly I do like the slower side of Johnson with SSG more than CM but when he does that solo thing, it is just punch yourself in the face good.  You can purchase it here (only 56 more copies left as I type this sentence).  I don’t know of any promo track from this EP but there is a free 24 track CM/SSG sampler on their Centro-matic website, so let’s listen to a couple of SSG songs to get you in the mood and coax you into picking up one of those 56 copies of Little Raider.
  ~ “Charred Resentment the Same”
  ~ “Alabama Crusade”
• Willy Vlautin of Richmond Fontaine had a couple of videos from his recent stop at NoAlibis.  The new album is called The High Country and I am looking forward to it very much.  The below video is presumably from the new album (from the title alone), so it kinda kicks it up a notch in the needing-to-hear-this-new-album-now category.  Thanks to ‘Tabbedout’ in the AltCountryTab forums for the heads up!  Watch & listen:
  

That is all I have for now, but what is everybody else listening to?

~Smansmith

Arthur Alligood emailed me about his new album (just out March 2011) and I have to say I have been pleasantly surprised with the album. It is a cross between singer songwriter, pop, folk and even a bit of folky country rock. ‘What’ you say? Surprisingly enough yes, it is all here in one 10 track package.

Admittedly I find the slowed down acoustic numbers from Alligood is where he excels and where I enjoy the release the most. Songs like ‘Turn It Over’ have a restrained story telling aura and the album ending ‘Come On Something’ has a letting go feel – but not in a sombre way, but as if one is looking almost reluctantly looking forward to bigger and better. This is one thing that might come for Alligood with the clarity and polished sound on a lot of these songs. A personal favourite is the opening track “Show Some Heart”, listen below:

A simple yet gorgeous song with acoustics, light keyboards and a honesty that only a good singer songwriter can pull off. Not heard enough of that style? How about another with a bit of waning lap steel (I think it is lap or pedal steel…)? Try this one on.

This one is probably the most sparse with the hint of country. Stunning in my opinion and probably the stand out for Slowcoustic fans I think. Nothing beats the feeling that a song like this creates, early evening, quiet times, light breeze and a open landscape view – the classic back porch with warming whisky in a mason jar. Tasty, right?

So the two songs above make the album worthwhile, but for those not sold on a one trick pony, you still get a more upbeat facet of Alligood with tracks like ‘Keep Your Head Up” & “Make Her Smile”, good for kickin’ up the heels me thinks. So why don’t you swing by his Bandcamp page to stream the full album (here) and you can even pick up an earlier EP ‘Full Circle’ as a free download (here). Let’s play you out with the title track:

For more information – find Arthur Alligood on his Website, Bandcamp, Facebook and Twitter.

~Smansmith

What can be said about this album that hasn’t been said and you have already heard?  If you are at least remotely interested in country, Americana, folk music in 2011, you have most likely already read and heard of Josh T. Pearson and his album “Last of the Country Gentlemen”.  A simple yet soo complex you can’t even delve into it album from a man creating a masterpiece.  Dramatic?  Yes.  That is what this album is essentially.  Its soo tortured, slow, hushed, hurt and haunting that you are left in turn feeling like it is dramatically beautiful and immense.  Last of the Country Gentlemen, best album of the year?  Yes.

03 Woman When I’ve Raised Hell by joshtpearson

Okay, getting worked up about an album released in March as the album of the year before hearing even half of what is released in 2011 is kinda my style…  To be fair, I will wait to officially make my decision in about 6 months but one needs to think that this album has the legs that very few other albums have had lately.  Don’t believe me?  Listen:

02 Country Dumb (Piano Version) by joshtpearson

So while I am not going to ‘review’ the album as you already know I love it, thus I am not an objective observer on the weight this album holds but I thought I might quote from a friend of mine.  The friend is Morgan King who I have known for a while now (and he is the original owner of Yer Bird Records that I now run – so you know we are on the same page) and he writes things as they should be.  While I strain to provide this album with proper prose, I am going to quote from Morgan on a review he did on his ‘Rate Your Music’ account.

“A massive, intimate triumph of an album. Certainly not for those with a short attention span, and in many ways not even for old fans of Lift to Experience, as this trades in the bombast of that record for something stripped bare of arena rock trappings, focusing on the core of self-doubt and the sheer hell of living with yourself that has permeated Pearson’s limited recorded output. Pearson’s sprawling free-folk narratives are laced with heady imagery and wry humor – with the backing of Warren Ellis’s always-gorgeous strings – create a broad tapestry of tragedy, remorse and recurring meditations on the sheer terror that comes with responsibility.”

Yes, I agree with this overview – it can be an album that is lost on some while those that actually ‘find’ it, discover it.  Morgan is writing the words that fail to fall from my fingertips when listening to this album.  But it doesn’t stop there.

“This is an extremely masculine, barely repentant, full-on Id album – limp-wristed scarf-wearing indie-pop fans need not apply, at least not until they’ve lived long enough to have experienced being bitterly divorced, being a righteous bastard, or had to shake off the morning DTs with a shot of bourbon while you’re still sitting on the toilet. Or, put another way, imagine if Leonard Cohen was a shit-kicking Texas drunk instead of an effete NYC martini-sipper and you’re getting pretty close. It’s highly unlikely 2011 will produce a more unique or compelling record.”

I personally think one thing that really hits home about the above quote is that this album IS extremely masculine – and outside of “boys don’t cry” mentality, this is another facet of the album’s raw appeal.  While Leonard Cohen fans may not like the comparison, I don’t think it is unwarranted – in relation to this album at least.   At this point, after all the many reviews on the album (mostly very positive except for the one glaringly obvious one at a certain music website) I have nothing other to say than this album is one that I will hold onto for a while and for good reason.  Give it a chance, you might see the light via his darkness.

Sweetheart I Ain’t Your Christ (piano version with Dustin O’Halloran) by joshtpearson

Find JTP:

~Smansmith

P.S. remember to get the vinyl version of the album as it includes the non CD track “Last of the Country Gentlemen”.
P.P.S. You might also know Morgan King as the one responsible for the original story in the Strand of Oaks Vinyl album.  The story that ties all songs from the album into one surreal tale…check it out if you can!

Video of the day from country crooners Kill County.  I totally slept on the album ‘The Year of Getting By” from late last year and I am just now starting to get into it – expect a more detailed post in the coming weeks.  The album is full of slowed down drinkin’ country, but does kick it up for those post-punk/honky-tonk fans out there (for good measure).  But for now, watch a one-take video for the track “The Train, The Drinks, and The Dawn” from Love Drunk over on Vimeo!

Kill County: The Trains, The Drinks, and The Dawn from Love Drunk on Vimeo.

~

~

Visit the boys on their Bandcamp Page HERE and pick up their album for a lousy $5.00 (or more)!

~Smansmith

Still getting immersed in Tim Easton and I thank the good folks at AltCountryTab.ca for the discussion on his new albums that sparked my interest in this Californian singer-songwriter-outlaw-type.  After hearing about the two new albums (one more rock n’ country and one acoustic – guess which one I like more??) I started searching him out and found some great videos.  Take a few minutes to watch/listen to the two promo videos for both Tim and his microphone (??)…never the less, it is quality watching and listening.

Visit his website and get both new albums (signed versions as well) for $25.00! – click here.  Currently I have been enjoying the “Since 1966″ side of things (acoustic), but the “Beat the Band” album’s title track is pure Alt-Country ballad perfection.  So essentially you can’t lose.

Well enough rambling, lets get to two videos that I have been enjoying this weekend.

~~

~

I really like both these videos and Highway 62 Love Song was directed by Doug Beale who also provided the main image above which is the “Since 1966″ album cover.  Love that shit.

Well, that is all – go enjoy some Tim Easton this Sunday already.

~Smansmith

Just wanted to update that one of my favourite laid back son of a bitches Jeffrey Foucault has a new album out the beginning of May called “Horse Latitudes”.

While Foucault’s original material has always had a positive response, the last few releases have been a mixture of covers, collaborations and live efforts.  All still pretty darn solid in my opinion, but I am looking forward to another album of originals.  The album is supposed to fill the dance card with uptempo jams and ‘whispering solo pieces’, so it looks to have a bit of everything.  Take a listen to the title track below;

“Horse Latitudes” – Jeffrey Foucault
from 2011′s “Horse Latitudes” (Pre-Order)

You can find more downloads on his website and a few mentions of JF right here on Slowcoustic (here, here & here).

~Smansmith

]]> http://slowcoustic.com/2011/03/22/new-album-alert-jeffrey-foucaults-horse-latitudes-out-may-3rd-2011/feed/ 1 http://slowcoustic.com/2011/03/16/official-slowcoustic-sxsw-picks-friday-march-18th-2011-josh-t-pearson-strand-of-oaks-caleb-coy/ http://slowcoustic.com/2011/03/16/official-slowcoustic-sxsw-picks-friday-march-18th-2011-josh-t-pearson-strand-of-oaks-caleb-coy/#comments Wed, 16 Mar 2011 14:09:09 +0000 slowcoustic http://slowcoustic.com/?p=5820

Okay, I admit I have not scoured the schedules at all or even really looked into it.  I am one of those bloggers that did not make the trip and I try to “forget” about SXSW partially due to jealousy and sheer rage.  Just kidding on the rage, I’m Canadian – let’s get real.

I just wanted to officially give my support on the artist(s) I would absolutely not miss at this year’s SXSW (music side of things) festival.  What?  No Kanye?  No Strokes?  No, this is Austin – you have to see some cowboys and try to keep it a bit “indie”.  Okay, the top pick for 2011 is Josh T. Pearson as he has made a masterpiece in his first solo album “Last of the Country Gentlemen” that was just released in the UK this week (US/CAN at the end of March).  Listen:

“Woman When I Raise Hell (Alternative Version)” – Josh T. Pearson

I also recommend seeing him on Friday, March 18th at the Muzzle of Bees BBQ as you will get to see another Slowcoustic favourite in Strand of Oaks!  Tim Showalter (Strand of Oaks) had my favourite album of 2010, so why the hell would anyone consider missing this guy?  He has more shows, but he happens to be sharing the bill with Josh T. Pearson – two birds, folks.

~~~

Also, I think a great cowboy to go see is our boy Caleb Coy who has a show on Friday night (after you see JTP & SoO) around 10:30pm at Stephen F’s Bar (info).  If you are looking for more along the lines of Josh in the cowboy variety, Caleb is your guy.  Listen:

“Suited Me (Richard Dobson Cover)” – Caleb Coy

So that is all I really have – 3 artist recommendations for those current and temporary Austinites.  Hope you all enjoy it, one day you will have to buy my a beer while we are all enjoying the warmth in some future March.

~Smansmith

]]> http://slowcoustic.com/2011/03/16/official-slowcoustic-sxsw-picks-friday-march-18th-2011-josh-t-pearson-strand-of-oaks-caleb-coy/feed/ 0 http://slowcoustic.com/2011/02/15/song-of-the-day-woman-when-ive-raised-hell-by-josh-t-pearson/ http://slowcoustic.com/2011/02/15/song-of-the-day-woman-when-ive-raised-hell-by-josh-t-pearson/#comments Tue, 15 Feb 2011 15:14:04 +0000 slowcoustic http://slowcoustic.com/?p=5715

Mp3: “Woman, When I’ve Raised Hell (FD Acoustic Session)” – Josh T. Pearson

Josh T. Pearson’s upcoming album “Last of the Country Gentlemen” is a gut wrenching experience of an album.  It is hard to describe, but this is “essentially” a country album that sways into deep dark corners, digs out remnants of things not to be spoken of and delicately splays everything in front of you.  The album is stellar…dark…slow…straining…rambling and it’s going to be a contender for album of the year.

The song of the day today is “Woman, When I’ve Raised Hell” and I cannot stop listening to it.  The video and above mp3 is the FD Acoustic Session (audio is simply just a rip of the video, sorry for quality) and it is a great representation of the album as a whole.  Please join me in waiting in line to purchase this album this spring (March 14th in the UK at least).

You can sign up on his website mailing list right now (here) and receive the piano version of the first single “Country Dumb” that will be released Sunday Feb. 20th.

Find more about Josh and the upcoming album via Mute Records UK:

~~
~Smansmith

Caleb sent over another one of his covers this past weekend – this time he covers the buzz band everyone is looking forward to at SXSW this year – The Marshall Tucker Band.  Remember, you heard it here second.

“Fly Eagle Fly (Marshall Tucker Band Cover)” – Caleb Coy, unreleased

Bonus, find some more Caleb Coy from his debut album from us over on Yer Bird Records.
Caleb Coy
“I’ll Be Damned” (mp3)
from “Wild Desert Rose”
(Yer Bird Records)

Buy at iTunes Music Store
Buy at Amazon MP3
More On This Album

~Smansmith

Kyle Swartzwelder is one of those guys you always feel is flying under the radar with consistently great music.  While “country folk” isn’t the genre of music you really go into to become famous, it just seems like some people deserve a bit more.  Kyle is one of these people.

Kyle has quietly set forth his 3rd release in a 4 track EP of Neil Young trubutes and while it isn’t always “Slow and ‘coustic” as he noted to me, it still has phenomenal moments.  The EP has probably one of my current favourite songs in the epic seven and a half minute “Cortez the Killer” – just great.  It is a modern laid back country-fied version and just hits the spot.  I instantly felt the track and I knew this as there isn’t even vocals until over 2 minutes into the song and it isn’t out of place – the song is just a great listen.

Some people are wary of Neil Young “covers” as they have been done numerous times all over the world due to Young’s influence in this style of music – sometimes they work, sometimes you are just people singing other people’s music.  In this instance it really works and you must listen to Cortez the Killer right now, see below!

“Cortez the Killer” – Kyle Swartzwelder, from 2011′s “The Songs of Neil Young” EP

Please swing by and visit Kyle on his Website HERE, and purchase it HERE.
Visit Kyle on his Facebook, MySpace and Reverbnation pages.

~Smansmith

p.s.  If you enjoy covers, please check out his previous EP that has a vicious Springsteen cover of Thunder Road.  Also…tell me you have heard his Kathleen Edward’s “Away” cover too?

Greater Pacific are a “side project” of the band Travel By Sea – or rather include some members of TBS – and have released a 6 track digital EP on Yer Bird Records as of today!

The band is led by Kyle Kersten and John Phinney with the help of drummer Mike Cusick – all three also record as part of Travel By Sea.  With stunning flecks of Angela Correa mixed in for (very) good measure, this EP is a stunning if not somber affair.  Just the way we like it around here.

Rainfall is reminiscent of the work Travel By Sea do, but possibly with a much more slowed down country folk vibe.  For some listeners, they won’t be able to tell that distinction, but it is definitely there.  These 6 tracks are not hard drinkin’ country tracks, but more like snippets of relationship as told by troubadours of years that slip further away each year.  While the EP is all new material – it is old to the ears, slow paced, stories of life with pedal steel dripping from almost every moment.   While all the songs might not be slow burning heart breakers, the sounds accompanying Kersten’s well known timbre of vocals will tug at something inside of you, if only lightly easing you forward…with the help of your past.

The lead off track is “Distance” and you can listen below and watch the video:

Greater Pacific, Distance (2011) from Henkydory on Vimeo.

~~
Tracklisting

Your History
Sun Will Still Burn
Rainfall
Distance (mp3)
Deep As the Ocean Blue
With Leaving

Purchase “Rainfall”: Yer Bird Records, iTunes, Amazon
Visit Greater Pacific: Yer Bird Records, Facebook, MySpace

~Smansmith

Caleb Stine is the perfect musician to provide a Friday Feature track.  Caleb provides music that fits like 2 year old work gloves, it is not only familiar but feels like you have always had (and needed) these songs.  To listen to Stine and not mention that echoes of Townes Van Zandt are heard in his music would be complete misdirection in the style of music here.  While there are many artists that would provide a cover of a Townes track to show you the influence on them, Stine provides his own songs to place beside some of the greats of Townes – this is honest and damn good Americana.

While this post is featuring the promotional track of “My Service Isn’t Needed Anymore”, there are numerous tracks that stand out like “The Last Curtain Call”, “When She Comes” and “Ain’t Nobody” that will soon to be counted on as Stine classics (this being his 5th full length album).  Essentially I really like this album and it actually caught me a little off-guard and out of nowhere…but I am glad I found it because it has quickly become an old friend.  Listen below;

“My Service Isn’t Needed Anymore” – Caleb Stine

Find out more on Caleb: Website, Facebook
Purchase I Wasn’t Built For A Life Like This: iTunes, eMusic, Amazon

~Smansmith

p.s.  Don’t think the “Small Sur” t-shirt wasn’t lost on me either…this guy does little wrong!

This isn’t a review per se, but after starting to listen to this album (and a quick post yesterday that included the track “Geese Fly By” from this album), I thought I should at least make a mention.

So I am a fan of Foucault and I will obviously like the songs crafted herein, but more so I have been missing a bit more “Americana Country” in my life lately and this album is helping me out in that situation.  God damn, the slow burning balladeer tracks are great and they are plentiful on this album.  Admittedly I didn’t download the entire album and selected the tracks that immediately jumped out to this sad bastard.  Tracks like the aforementioned Geese Fly By, the below track Deserter’s Information Center are a good start and are lead off promotional tracks.  But don’t stop there and think you have the album figured out.

The album has some great tracks in songs like In Our Own Country, Standing Ovation and Late Season that show waning guitar and Foucault’s pitch perfect voice.  You also get a more mexi-cali influenced song in “There I Go” and the roaming troubadour track of “Twice I Left Her”.  Overall I have to recommend the album as the tried and true delivery by Foucault is not lost here and is hitting the spot for me.  Listen in:

“Deserter’s Information Center” – Jeffrey Foucault

Swing on by his website here to purchase or you can always use the juggernaut iTunes here and even the new eMusic here.

~Smansmith

How there isn’t more discussion on Melaena Cadiz’s album “Rattle The Windows” truly baffles me.  A stunning album (albeit a bit short at 8 tracks) comes in as a slam dunk for fans of Marissa Nadler, Alela Diane, Mariee Sioux and women who not only have great voices, enchanting music but just have an aura about them.

I don’t mean to get all “deep” but the album from Melaena Cadiz seems very organic and seems what new folk is (or should be).  You have slow burning ballads like “Sleeping” or “Falling Down” alongside something more traditional and finger picking like “The Wolf” and still have something a bit alt country with “Clay Pigeons”.  The album has a bit of everything (if you like indie folk that is) an even at the aforementioned 8 tracks it still feels complete.  And not to beat the dead horse, this feels like a real album, that it comes from a songwriter telling tales, not a musician in a studio doing a thousand takes trying to sound authentic.  You immerse in the album, search it out.

Backstory: I was given the heads up about Melaena from Mikael Kennedy this past summer (who took the album cover photo) and I immediately trusted him once I knew  he has worked with other Slowcoustic favourites like Matt Bauer (cover of “The Island Moved in the Storm” – now you can see the similarities in the covers between the two, right?) and Brown Bird – so it gives you a bit of reference for overall genre we are speaking of with Matt Bauer, Brown Bird and Melaena Cadiz…imagine that live show…in the woods…beside a fire…wow.

Speaking of….how about the new video for “Oh Holy Night” from Melaena?

melaena cadiz – oh holy night from mikael kennedy on Vimeo.

~~

Tracklisting

1. The Wolf
2. Clay Pigeons
3. Falling Down
4. Blue Skies
5. Rattle The Windows
6. Sleeping
7. Stone Throw
8. Cold Cold River

Thanks to Melaena who let us have 2 tracks for you to enjoy – please consider swinging by for a purchase (and get the CD if possible, the artwork is even better in real life)!

Visit/Purchase Melaena:

~Smansmith

]]> http://slowcoustic.com/2010/11/03/melaena-cadizs-rattle-the-windows/feed/ 3 http://slowcoustic.com/2010/09/07/caleb-coy-releases-wild-desert-rose-today-its-now-country-tuesday/ http://slowcoustic.com/2010/09/07/caleb-coy-releases-wild-desert-rose-today-its-now-country-tuesday/#comments Tue, 07 Sep 2010 14:43:26 +0000 slowcoustic http://slowcoustic.com/?p=5048

So let’s get one thing straight.  Growing up, I would have laughed at myself telling younger me that I would be listening to Country music.  And if I said, I was listening and loving Country music, I might have done more than laughing.  But, here I am…

As part of our label life over at Yer Bird Records, we are so excited to provide some old time country music in the form of the 10 track Wild Desert Rose album from Caleb “Bobby” Coy.  He is truly Southern and it shows, these songs are what you think of when you think of country music, not a CMT television “spectacular”.  The whole album is a demo inspired collection of honest songs that span love lost, drinkin’ and living in the South.  You can listen below for yourself.  Highly recommended (but I would say that…).  ;-)

Caleb Coy
“I’ll Be Damned” (mp3)
from “Wild Desert Rose”
(Yer Bird Records)

Buy at Amazon MP3
Buy at iTunes
Buy at eMusic
More On This Album

You can also visit Caleb over on his artist page at Yer Bird Records, his new Tumblr page and even Facebook!

Bonus:  How about a cover track from Caleb’s Tumblr page?  Listen: “Suited Me (Richard Dobson Cover)”

~Smansmith

I think the post title says it all.  This Saskatchewan troubadour is quickly making me more than a casual fan – this guy is definitely some of the best new (to me) Canadian talent!

While this is his 3rd official release, it is coming on strong with great mellow acoustics, serious Americana hooks and a voice that lands exactly where it should be (a touch rough but with a harmony that is rock steady).  Favourite tracks are the title track, “O’ Ontario”, “Don’t Ask Me to Sing”, hell…they are all recommended.  The only fault I have is that excluding the first track as an “introduction” it is only 8 songs…

Come & Gone Tracklisting

1. Introduction
2. Coming back home
3. Small town streets
4. Sins of my father, sins of mine
5. Lake of the woods
6. O’ Ontario
7. Don’t ask me to sing
8. Town to town
9. Hard to love

Lucky is also still on his massive tour, so visit his MySpace page for a list of dates across Canada (here).

Watch some early workings of one of the tracks “Don’t ask me to sing” from ZL’s Vimeo page:

Don’t ask me to sing from zachary lucky on Vimeo.

Find Zachary on Bandcamp ($10 gets you the digital, $12 gets the actual CD!), Facebook and Twitter as well.  You can also purchase at iTunes by clicking here.

~Smansmith

Today we have a Song of the Day from Andy Berkhout’s “Song Per Week Project” and this one is pretty damn good.  Andy has been on the blog prior (see here) and I am more than happy to have him back.  The song is “Endless Rhyme” and it is more of a harmonica laced “Americana” track.  I am a sucker for two things in my folk and folk inspired music and they are banjo and harmonica.  The song also has a touch of twang, if only in the tone of Berkhout’s voice.  It is a totally solo affair and it lends me to believe that if this is just a “week’s worth” of creation, this guy is going somewhere!

“Endless Rhyme” – Andy Berkhout, from week 29 of the “Song Per Week Project”

Find more Andy Berkhout on his Website, MySpace and see below for a couple of upcoming shows:

Bonus video of the track:

~Smansmith

I have been waiting on this post for a while.  I have only had it since early June, but I feel like I have been waiting a long time as I have wanted to tell everyone about this album.  This album came out of nowhere for me, I didn’t know of the brothers harm prior and now I constantly listen to them.  This is a band of traditional Americana if I ever heard one.  I only think of the heartland of the USA when I hear them.   They might be based back in Cottage Grove, Oregon and that is close enough to dusty plains as they need to be.  All The Lies Songs You Wanna Hear, yes.

So I don’t know too much about the boys, but there is a pretty good biography of the band on their MySpace – it tells of the beginning in Oregon, the coming and going of members, the return to Oregon and the rebirth of the band and new album that is banjo, country, ass kicking at times and real down to earth music that works in headphones and on a stage with drink in hand.  Sometimes when you listen to bands you feel like they might be trying too hard or maybe they haven’t fully meshed yet…this is nowhere to be found on this new break out album.

The Harmed Brothers today consist of founding member Donnie Vietti and Alex Salcido and having not heard previous versions of the band, I believe they just might have found something that needs to be heard, heard a lot.  So, as you can see I really like these two “brothers” sound and by the look of many of the photos on their MySpace page, I think that they might be the kinda guys you wanna know as well as listen to!

I don’t have the official release date to purchase, but will update when I confirm – but seriously, seek them out, email them, see them on tour this summer (see below).  Listen to one of my favourite tracks from the album below as a taster and hopefully soon you will have an opportunity to fall in love with the album as well.

“One in the Garden” – The Harmed Brothers, from 2010′s “All The Lies You Wanna Hear”

Love that track!  Other great songs from the album are “One Night”, “Song for Lauren”, When I Get Back (Tailor-Made Blues)”, “Kansas Wind”, “Cryin’ Shame”, “Greetings From Mardi Gras” <—- Also freakin’ good, so you see there are numerous winners on this album.  I really wish I had info to purchase!!

UPDATE: Purchase the album digitally on CD Baby by clicking HERE!

They are also at the Mountain Stomp Music Festival this weekend if you are in the Oregon area – but they will also be in Eugene for their CD Release show on July 8th at the Wandering Goat.  Be there.  More dates below:

The Washington Family Roadshow!

Visit:

Enjoy one of the best Americana/folk/country bands I have heard in a long while.

~Smansmith

This is one transit fare I would have no problem paying.

Shot At The Dark – The Sumner Brothers from Shot at The Dark on Vimeo.

AND the fantastic Part Two!

Shot at The Dark – The Sumner Brothers Part Two from Shot at The Dark on Vimeo.

~~~

The self titled album from a couple of years back is definitely a must for anyone who appreciates the down trodden with a bit of twang.  Need an example?  How about something like:

“Pain” – The Sumner Brothers, self titled (2008)

While I have been listening for a while, I have never gotten around to posting on this Canadian Duo (Brian and Bob).  Weird, I know.  There are two albums to dig into (so far…I think the new album is finished and due in the fall) and come highly recommended.  You can find the possibly more raw “In The Garage” from 2006 and then 2008′s self titled release that has seen a bit more production value (but still with teeth, if you get what I am saying).  If you are still wondering what they are all about, their new website definitely hits the nail on the head with the below:

It is this commitment to authenticity that first drew the brothers to the songs of country, folk and blues, to roots music. Somehow banjos, harmonica’s and steel string guitars seem to lend themselves well to the notion of truth. These sounds coupled with the devastatingly low baritone of brother Brian, and the hauntingly sorrowful croon of brother Bob’s tenor, collide to form a sound, both unique and powerful.

If the above two videos and sample track haven’t convinced you, then you my friend do not enjoy the incredible talent of The Sumner Brothers and their Canadiana like I do.  ’nuff said.

Visit and purchase The Sumner Brothers:

~Smansmith

Sam Quinn’s new album is pretty darn special.  After only a couple of listens, his laid back country fused sound just grabs me.  The new album basically just came out on Ramseur Records and is one of the new albums that has really stuck out for me – I mean a lot of people really liked “The Everybodyfields” (his former band) but I really like where this new stuff recorded with Japan 10 is going.  It is not meant to replace everybodyfields, so get that out of your head, this is new (yet feels like it has been around for years) and it really works.

Sam’s unique voice is primed for a bit of twang from a pedal steel, blends naturally with acoustics and if you can visually focus outside of his immense facial hair you will hear it all too.  Highly recommended.  Check a video of a demo from one of the new tracks below:

Sam Quinn + Japan Ten: “Hello” @ Ramseur Records HQ from Ramseur Records on Vimeo.

~~~

You can find a absolutely fantastic deal on his site…get this:  CD AND loseless digital download for $9.99!  You cannot beat that.  Visit the SAM QUINN STORE for that deal.  Also for those who can’t handle  artist stores and need the warm comforting embrace of a full blown digital retailer, get your iTunes love on.  If you need a bit of a sampler to take with you, visit the good folks at HearYa who have some more video and the track “Suite Motown” from the new album for download.

I don’t officially have any downloads for ya folks, I know, I know – but stream a couple why don’t ya?  Also, not featured below – make sure you buy it as you can’t miss out on “Gun”, “Help Me” & “River” as well…sooo good.

~Smansmith

p.s.  He’s touring to, if you wanted to see it all live (you do) – Tour dates.

Red Clay River are the type of band that I am getting to really like.  They have the slow burners that I frickin really like, but they still have jump with a bit of rockin’ out.  I don’t always “rock out” as I put it, but sometimes it is good to know that you can – or at least your bands can!

RCR sent over some demos and videos of said demos to listen/see and it just happened at the right time.  I was hankering for something a bit gritty and had a bit more bite than my standard singer songwriters or down tempo indie pop that I can get lost in.  This is the band that helped me go for a stroll down Alt-Country-fringe-folk lane once again.  And I enjoyed my stay.  I just really liked the way they provide the hard drinkin’ devil may care music that has brought comparisons to Tom Waits, Against Me, O’Death, Micah P. Hinson, Gogol Bordello, Mark Lanegan.  This my friends is your Alt Country Friday.

“Build A Fire” (mp3)

~~

“Fall Like The Devil” (mp3)

Bonus tracks:

Slower: “Letters to the Sky”
Gritty: “Ain’t No Blues”

Click Below to Visit Red Clay River:
New release “Cover Our Faces With Soot and Dreams” available by clicking below as well

~Smansmith

“With Love”(mp3)

The thing about songwriting is that often it takes a specific experience or occasion or catalyst in general that makes for a great song.  Great songs (for me at least) tend to be a touch darker or even lonely, but you all may know this already.

This track from Ronnie Fauss from his “New Songs for the Old Frontier, Volume 1″ album to his own admission was almost subconsciously hidden as the last track on the release.  This is because it is from a specific experience in Fauss’ life that could only be dark and even lonely.  I don’t presume to know the real background of taking this experience to song, but listen to the lyrics and know that in his own words how it can “..show how a tragic beginning can have a redemptive ending.”

The album cover above is actually of Ronnie Fauss (the child) and his father a couple years prior to his father passing away – which in turn is the focus of “With Love”.  This week represents the 25th anniversary.

Visit and Purchase:

~Smansmith

Mark Erelli {Visit}

Jeffrey Foucault and long time friend Mark Erelli have murder in their heart.  And in their latest collaborative album.

So I felt I had to post this because it was like I was meant to, I basically had to.  I don’t normally hear too much from either artist despite being a big fan of Foucault and slightly more than average fan of Erelli.  Then, last weekend I get an email from fellow blogger Laura at You Crazy Dreamers to check out a b-side/demo from Foucault (listen: “Geese Fly By“).  I realize later that she was getting ready to see the show last week out in Chicago that ended up being her favourite concert this year.  And she has seen more than a few so far.  She purchased the Seven Curses album and immediately sent it over to me and I have been playing non-stop…well, lots.

Then I notice on one of my regular reads, Cover Lay Down, that this album gets a mention as essentially the album is a collection of murder ballad covers – hence the mention on Cover Lay Down.  Okay this is getting weird, so I decide in order to get my aura clean I had to post on the album and here we are.

So basically, I really like the album – but people, you have to be ready for the (alt) country in you to be represented.  The album could be considered a country album if this was 10 years ago, so now a days I would call it folk-country or so.  Both Erelli and Foucault are singer-songwriter/troubadours in the full sense of the word – these two would feel just as comfortable in a whiskey soaked stage at midnight just as easily in the back woods of Colorado when singing to whomever is around.  The covers range from the full on country version of Woody Guthrie (Philadelphia Lawyer) to the honky tonk version of Bruce Springsteen (Johnny 99) to a mellowed out Steve Earle (Ellis Unit 1) and the below version of Richard Buckner’s version of a Edgar Lee Masters Poem called Tom Merritt (from what I can tell).  Essentially, this is a great country cover album that possibly gets a bit too country for me at times, but it always pulls itself back with a stunning track that keeps me listening.  Recommended.

“Tom Merritt” - Jeffrey Foucault & Mark Erelli, from 2010′s “Seven Curses”
(you can also visit Foucault’s site for 2 more tracks, here)

Purchase:

~Smansmith

The first track and recommendation is for Cavalier Rose.  This newly minted band out of Brooklyn has something that you don’t get much from me – a bit of energy.  Okay…its kind of a dirty, downtown basement club energy.  This is not an insult in any way – this is the stuff you dig your teeth into.  I mean I admit I like the toned down side of CR (so from what I hear, I cannot see them live as the show is supposed to be pretty loud!!) but there is still something about Heather Christian’s vocals taunting you to lean in only to get your ass firmly handed back to you.  You might want to check out “Sparrow”, my favourite track from their Daytrotter session to get an idea, as well as their website for a listen (streaming and download) for a bounty of demos.

“Lamplight” – Cavalier Rose

~~~

The next song and recommendation is from a similar styled band in the aspect that comes with a bit of energy, but knows how to slow it down just right.  This Boston foursome known as The Longwalls have one of the sweetest Alt Country ballads I’ve heard in a while in the title track from their upcoming EP “Dark Academy”.   I first heard of The Longwalls from fellow blogger Matt over at DysonSound due to a previous EP “Field Guide for the Zombie Survivalist” which didn’t catch me off the bat.  I admit I walked into Dark Academy not expecting what I heard – great classic Alt-Country/ Indie that allows you to enjoy both the energy of your evening plus the mellowing out on the way home at 2:00am.  I think of a similar style “local” band from Edmonton Alberta, The Wheat Pool when I hear them – and that ain’t too shabby at all.  If you have a chance you can stream the whole EP on SoundCloud HERE (you might want to check out the track “Ghosts” as well).  You can also check them on MySpace or watch quite an entertaining video for Zombies from their former album over on YouTube.

Dark Academy by StaticMotor

I hope you can get a chance to dig into both of the above!

~Smansmith

Haven’t heard it yet, no problem.  Streamed a bit on MySpace, but you never know, right?  Well how to decide if you want the new Theodore album “Hold You Like A Lover” in two easy steps.

1. Listen to a sample from the previous album Defeated, TN:
   “Wade’s Lament”
   
2. Listen to a sample from the previous, previous album Songs For The Weary:
   “Back From the War”
   
3. Super secret 3rd reason – my post where they cover Damien Jurado’s “Fuel” – HERE

The album is out now (released Feb. 9, 2010) from Moon Jaw Records and is available on CD and Vinyl – no digital at the moment, but hopefully soon…

Visit Theodore and purchase “Hold You Like A Lover” below

You can also find the above tracks and 6 others over on Moonjaw for free download!

~Smansmith

p.s.  If you like the above two songs, and you do like them, please stream “Across The River” on MySpace – frickin’ good!

Need a bit of heartache & story telling to ease you into the weekend?  How about a bit of southern drawl in your daily listening?  How about both in one package, “Addition by Subtraction” by Lucas Westcott just may be exactly what you are looking for.

Lucas sent me the CD the other week which was actually released in 2008 and I was completely unaware of it!  Did I say I like getting great musical recommendations?  Well I do.  Around here I tend to cover a range of artists who’s sound might range from fringe folk to a more traditional country and Lucas sways closer to the country side of that spectrum.  He has some great slow burners and it’s his drawl that makes you think it has southern roots when in fact he is from Michigan.  I have firmly believed in the Michigan scene and now I know they have even more including some in the alt-country variety.

The majority and the best tracks from the album include Westcott’s vocals out front with it’s country/blues tenor, almost if he is a cross between Texas and Mississippi.   I think he could get away with even more grit in his sound as his voice can carry it.  That voice looks to be beyond his years and brings me back to days of which I have never been, but you still know it takes you back…if you get what I am saying.  The album is pretty straight forward, he knows his sound and he sticks with it – most (if not all) of the tracks are solo singer songwriter in the “troubadour on a back porch” style and that works for me.  I want to leave you with two tracks that feature some great tales set to country ballads that should make you run out and pick up a copy…even if we are a year late.

“Father of the Year”
“Hometown”

Visit & Purchase Lucas Westcott:

~Smansmith

]]> http://slowcoustic.com/2009/11/27/a-litte-bit-of-folk-country-for-your-friday-lucas-westcotts-addition-by-subtraction/feed/ 2 http://slowcoustic.com/2009/11/13/the-wheat-pool-release-new-video-for-this-is-it/ http://slowcoustic.com/2009/11/13/the-wheat-pool-release-new-video-for-this-is-it/#comments Fri, 13 Nov 2009 14:59:28 +0000 slowcoustic http://slowcoustic.com/?p=3107 Still a fan of these Edmonton boys since first seeing them live here in Calgary – won me over instantly.  They are not the regular acoustic folk that might grace the electronic pages of this site, but sometimes you need a bit of country rock to wake you from your stupor.

Sidenote: Even with my wife saying she thought “they wore their jeans very well…” I didn’t hold that against them and still would welcome these boys around anytime!

Enjoy the brand new video (just released yesterday) from their new album Hauntario!

Hey, you had video, how about a repeat of the tracks previously posted:

The Wheat Pool
“This Is It” (mp3)
“One of These Nights” (mp3)
from “Hauntario”
(Shameless Records Canada)

Buy at iTunes Music Store
More On This Album

~Smansmith

So I was recently called out in front of the class for chewing gum not finding local talent.  The calling out cam from fellow Canadian blogger Herohill and the local talent in question is Cam Penner.  Wait, let’s move back a touch – Craig over at Songs:Illinois posted on a nice little find with Cam Penner.  Said post is read by Herohill and then I am called out on ignoring local talent not finding this great roots/Americana/folk artist that I should have.

Okay, us Canadians sometimes have to rely on our friends to the south to find great artists from our own backyard.  It is bound to happen, Canada is MASSIVELY TALENTED when it comes to the indie music scene.  That is not the coincidental stuff, it comes next.

I look into this post by Songs:Illinois on Penner’s new album and low and behold, I find myself downloading the track and enjoying it quite a bit.  I then look into this Canadian musician and find out he is currently based in Calgary – where I live!  Then I look into it some more and find out Cam Penner is originally from Manitoba – where I moved from!  If anyone reading this is familiar with Southern Manitoba, it is full of smaller (mostly) farming communities and a fairly hefty religious and Mennonite presence.  It does turn out that Cam is from such a Mennonite community in Southern Manitoba…for all I know, he was a neighbor of my wife who is also a Mennonite from Southern Manitoba!  That would be too much so I am not looking into it any longer.

Don’t get me started on the fact that part of promotion for Cam Penner is through Kerf Music who I found out last week is the company our bookkeeper at my current job also works for….come on!

So, long not so interesting story short, listen to Cam Penner.  If you enjoy a bit of down-trodden folk with real Canadiana and a splash of country he is well worth it.

Also enjoy a video for the track that was posted to start this all:

Visit and purchase Cam Penner:

~Smansmith

I have been a bit lax on the label playlist feature here on Slowcoustic so I noticed that the good folks at IODA have quite a bit of content from Shameless Records available.  Hell, it is time to represent Alberta here – Canadian label action from my own province!  They have a pretty eclectic  roster, with my clear stand out favourite being The Wheat Pool – but that’s how I roll (all families have their favourite child, right?).

In reading over the info on their website, you know that 2002 was the official start of the label with organizing by Glen Erickson (wait, does he play guitar in a band…).  Erickson wanted to create a local scene that was growing and what better way to do this than be a label in the City of Champions (Edmonton, Alberta).  Not that this label is exclusive to Edmonton, its roots are there and they are hoping to grow it world-wide (hey, why not?).  The label is basically “indie” with artists falling into the alt-country, folk-pop-rock genres, but I don’t think they are stopping there – swing by the page, get to know them.

Lets build a playlist now with hand picked examples of some tunes!

~~~

The Wheat Pool
“This Is It” (mp3)
“One of These Nights” (mp3)
from “Hauntario”
(Shameless Records Canada)

Buy at iTunes Music Store
Buy at Rhapsody

More On This Album
(NEW ALBUM)

~~~

The Wheat Pool
“Peniel, SK” (mp3)
“Evergreen” (mp3)
from “Township” (Excellent album)
(Shameless Records Canada)

Buy at iTunes Music Store
Buy at eMusic

More On This Album

~~~

F&M
“Shrug It Off” (mp3)
from “Every Light Must Fade”
(Shameless Records Canada)
More On This Album

~~~

F&M
“I Pray For The Fog” (mp3)
from “Let Every Light Shine”

(Shameless Records Canada)
More On This Album

~~~

Hector Fector
“All the Way’s We’re Living” (mp3)
“Let’s Make Friends” (mp3)
from “We Are Romantic”

(Shameless Records Canada)
More On This Album

~~~

James Murdoch Band
“Building a Bridge” (mp3)
“Canadian Summer” (mp3)
from “Wondering Where the Rush Has Gone”

(Shameless Records Canada)
More On This Album

~~~

Becky
“This Winter” (mp3)
“Breath” (mp3)
“Untitled in May” (mp3)
from “Some Like The Water” (GREAT album)
(Shameless Records Canada)

More On This Album

~~~

Now don’t you just want to be Canadian?

~Smansmith

I am a bit confused by The Big Nasty – they have two CDs coming out and one is more country folk and the other more rock alternative.  I mean each is its own project – and actually kudos to them for having the energies and ability to have two separate albums to promote.  And two CDs being released when you just formed in January of this year!!  Wow, dudes have their shite together.

CD # 1: Downtown is described as:

…what it would be like to meet a girl in a train station, spend three days in a city that you can’t remember, and then get back home to realize that you are still single and no longer have a comma in your bank account.

CD #2: The Sticks is described as:

Like waking up with a hangover in a pickup truck on the outskirts of town with no memory of your last 3 days…

While I am not sure how raucous and/or hazy this band prefers to be, there is a good listen here.  Check out a track from each album below – both “The Sticks” (country) and “Downtown” (Rock) are released on October 15th.  Guess which one I prefer…
~~~
The Big Nasty
“Life of a Dog” (mp3)
from “Downtown”
(Opus Music Ventures)

More On This Album

~~~
The Big Nasty
“Lay It All Out” (mp3)
from “The Sticks”
(Opus Music Ventures)

More On This Album

**Don’t miss the double CD Release party on Oct. 15th at the Starry Plough in Berkely.  Everyone attending gets a free CD!!

You can always visit them:

~Smansmith

Holy shit I am digging this song (Tirade Of A Shitty Mom)!  Wait, I’m digging the whole damn thing.

I recently picked up the album for One Hundred Dollars – another winner from Canada folks – and this song (and below video) are just amazing.  It is all psychedelic, folkish and is stuck in my head.  I noticed the youtube action for it and this video really is this song.  If there is a better video for this song – tell me what it could possibly be.  Sepia tones bleeding through a burnt orange vision all blurred with 60′s infused alt-country-folk.  All along Simone Fornow chants the lament of the shitty mom.  This song definitely gives juxtapose to the full album which tends to be a bit more Americana infused country.  It is just too good.

One Hundred Dollars (I never know if I should type $100, but the long form is the true name I believe) are coming to Calgary as well!  There is an Oct. 31st (yes Halloween show) at the Palamino – if you dare go downtown in the evening on Halloween, you now have purpose. The crew is about to start a Western Canadian Tour which is a little delayed for the past while as they seemed to stay “Eastern” due to various issues.  I don’t want to judge, but it’s about damn time!!  Saying that regardless of being fairly new to the band in general…

Visit them on MySpace to see some dates and stream some more tunes.  I leave you with what I believe was the lead off track (if my fellow Canadian bloggers have anything to say about the situation) which shows the difference (or depth depending on how you look at it) between tracks on the “Forest of Tears” album.  Okay watch the above video, then listen to the track below.  Intrigued aren’t you.

“No Great Leap” – One Hundred Dollars – from 2009′s “Forest of Tears”

Purchase:  iTunes & Sonic Union.

~Smansmith

I have done this before (see here) and I just did the whole drag and drop into my iTunes and have a new playlist for this Saturday. I have had these mp3s on my desktop for weeks now and they are not related at all besides the fact that I listened quickly, liked it and downloaded it, then didn’t import the songs to my iTunes. I don’t know what I’m doing half the time – there is soo much music out there and I try to grab as much of the stuff that I like, but it is like running up a wet banana with feet doused in baby oil. Don’t ask why I just typed that description – a bit groggy after pints last night.

So again, I apologize if you are a fellow blogger and I have stolen your music (but imitation is the sincerest…) but I can’t fully remember where all these songs came from.  Hell, if I downloaded them, they are sitting out there somewhere anyway, right?  Some are aptly labeled (well the Walkmen track is) and a few are from Last.fm, some might be artist submissions that I didn’t label correctly, etc.  I like them, so I hope you all can take them and listen and maybe pick up an album or single?

Saturday Desktop Mix

On the Water (In a Van Sessions – La Blogotheque) – The Walkmen {Visit} (La Blogotheque does no wrong, visit for more from this session!)

The Vagabond, Drunkard and Bank Man – Starving Pride {Visit} (find some more free downloads on his Last.fm page)

Where Was Your Mind – John Zambricki {Visit} (Nice singer songwriter stuff here, guy needs more love!)

Curse of a Drunk – The Takers {Visit} (great indie country with a rock edge)

The Revival Is Over – Sam Lowry {Visit} (gothic folk, stunning – see previous post on Sam)

Song for God – The Mountain Goats {Visit} (out take from one of the best lo-fi albums ever “All Hail West Texas”)

Faced Down – Sweedish {Visit} (New EP of mellow folk pop is only $5 at their website!)

Enjoy the fall weekend folks (did I mention that I think I saw snow in the forecast for Calgary next week??!!?).  I am hanging on to fall for a bit longer before these Saturday mixes become snowy-hibernation playlists!

~Smansmith