It is Friday and I am on an extended long weekend (because that is how I roll) and wanted to throw some videos and a few songs at ya to see what sticks.  It will all stick.

Wanted to post on a new video of Zachary Lucky and Carly Maicher for “Leaves are Falling” that they played in Liverpool, Nova Scotia during their current cross Canada tour.  I mention this as they will be here in Calgary tonight at a House Show (I’m out of the loop on that) but they have an official show at the Ironwood Stage this Monday, May 21.  Me and the Mrs. will be in attendance, so you should join us for a long weekend beer and some great tunes.  Great tunes like the below!

Visit The Ironwood Stage for info on the show, directions on this Monday’ show!

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Ms. Al Spx has a new video that premiered on Rolling Stone the other day (yes, Rolling Stone – we live in a new era of indie music folks).  The new album isn’t out yet but is garnering some very high praise (myself included).  The album has been in the works for years and it is truly magnificent.  I will also make no secret that I will be voting for Cold Specks on my Polaris Prize ballot (you know the  Polaris Prize right?).  Watch a video for Winter Solstice below!

Find out and pre-order this amazing debut album from Cold Specks: Cold Specks Store

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Lastly but not leastly, we have The Great American Desert (formerly South of Lincoln who was a Slowcoustic best of the year last year) and a new ‘Classroom’ video for the track ‘Whiteclay’ from his upcoming Yer Bird Records (ahem, yes our fantastic label).  You get an intro with the story behind the song and a fantastic live version of the song followed by why Max Holmquist (The Great American Desert) picked up his career in music.  Thanks to the Lawrence High School Film & Media Program for having Max in for the session!

Listen to a bonus track below – which incidentally will be the next video for the LHS Classroom Session as well!

Find more on The Great American Desert: Website

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There you have a grab bag that is chock full of goodness!

~Smansmith

Damien Jurado - image by Sarah Jurado

I discovered/remembered the other day via a random search in my iTunes library about the Damien Jurado demo for “Nothing Is The News” on his new album, Maraqopa.  When I first heard the new version, it didn’t immediately strike me as the demo that we posted back in 2010 (see post here with a couple other tracks) despite the first 30 seconds being almost identical.  I now find myself expecting that electric guitar and percussion to kick in at about 35 seconds in…where the demo now feels “unfinished”.  I guess that is the idea behind a track’s journey from thought, to demo, to final album version.  Of course working with Richard Swift (as Jurado did with Maraqopa) you know that he probably would not allow a solo acoustic song anyway!

So with the new version of Nothing Is The News being over twice as long, you know it has made a longer journey than most songs from the demo stage – especially for an artist who is loosely placed in the ‘singer-songwriter’ genre.  So I look at both tracks being almost two separate songs now.  One the early morning shuffling around the house version and one the driving around the Hollywood hills just prior to sunset version.  I will let you decide which is which.

aaaaand the video for the album version:

Visit Damien Jurado: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Secretly Canadian.

~Smansmith

Will Johnson - (image from Transistor Six Session - transistorsix.com)

Via a precarious #FF (follow friday) on Twitter I found word of the Transistor Six Session from Will Johnson from what looks to be a month ago.  A month ago.  I have been overlooking this for a month already.  For shame.

The session was recorded live at Frank in Austin, TX (of course it was) and includes some old, new and just plain great Will Johnson tunes.  Clearly this leans more towards his South San Gabriel side than the Centro-matic side as it is a solo performance, so if you are a fan you should really enjoy the session.  And it is a full 8 tracks!  Really nice job with the whole thing…there are exclusive photos, recordings (of which 3 are below via Soundcloud) and a video…kudos Transistor Six, kudos.

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Find the full post and additional information over at Transistor Six HERE.
Find more on Will Johnson at the Centro-matic website HERE.

~Smansmith

Field Report (Christopher Porterfield, formerly of the band Conrad Plymouth) has a new album coming in July and I am very excited for it.  If you look for songs thick with emotion and sharp lyrics, than this is your guy.  I think “Fergus Falls” really clinched it for me from a while back that I would be watching this guy forever on what he is recording and releasing.  He has a few tracks streaming from Partisan Records (although a recent Pitchfork article indicated the album is “self released”) that you can sample below.  The latest song to emerge from what looks like a 9 track album is ‘Taking Alcatraz’ and it is my current favourite track easily.

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Visit Field Report on the new website or like on Facebook.

Next we have the new musical endeavor of Brian Borcherdt called Dusted (this is the place where I say “of the band Holy Fuck”).  The album is also staying true to the new name as it is called ‘Total Dust’ and will see a release on July 10th (maybe it will share a release day with Field Report!).  The new album has some teaser videos and a lead off track of hazey indie pop that is currently auditioning for my spring/summer “jam”.  It is a little more upbeat and layered than his previous solo work on the blow-your-mind-album ‘Coyotes’ from 2010 and I have faith it will be a worthy release at a minimum!  You can currently pre-order it over on Hand Drawn Dracula in Canada (here) & Polyvinyl in places that are not Canada (here).  Listen to the lead off track ‘(Into the) Atmosphere’ below!

Bonus Video Teaser for the new album below.

Dusted – Teaser 1 from Hand Drawn Dracula on Vimeo.

Visit Dusted on the new Website and like on Facebook.

~Smansmith

I am a slacker and not posting lately, but after listening to the above track from I Am Oak, I thought I had to share.  I was introduced to I Am Oak from Geert from The Black Atlantic and have been enjoying his incredibly beautiful folk music ever since.  The above track is from his album Oasem (find it on Bandcamp) and comes with a two thumbs up.

I thought I would also throw in a bonus video of The Swell Season performing “Once” as it is kind of a classic and they performed it for AB Sessions as well!  Enjoy.

You shouldn’t need any help finding the Swell Season, but just in case you can find out all about it/them on the website.

~Smansmith

Doug Paisley - courtesy of No Quarter

Doug Paisley is the kind of guy you just want to root for and enjoy his great music.  I tend to think his music is great in the first place, so thinking that I should *feel like* I should like him only works even more for me.  I don’t know why I think this, but maybe being Canadian, I feel that both me and Doug are already behind the 8-ball.  Regardless of feeling sorry for myself (and non ceremoniously for Paisley), I feel like Doug provides some excellent music that leap-frogs any scenario of Canadian-ness and lands in a “just plain good music” territory.  He has a new EP coming out in a matter of minutes (April 17th on No Quarter) and a new album coming out later this year I believe.  You should be anticipating both.  I just felt I should post after seeing the fantastic video from Southern Souls (below) and thinking that I should be pushing this son-of-a-bitch on all of you.

DOUG PAISLEY – To & Fro from Mitch Fillion (southernsouls.ca) on Vimeo.

Find one of his new tracks “Bats” from the 5 track EP streaming below (courtesy of Paste Magazine):

Find out more on Doug Paisley: Website | No Quarter (label)

~Smansmith

p.s.  Find a track from our Slowcoustic Best of 2010 Canadian Music here.

Found this little gem via my Facebook stream (Thanks Laura!) for the “other” track from that Triple J performance over in Australia.  Everyone was posting on the Anais Mitchell cover he did (and it is worthy) but why did everyone seem to not appreciate this version of Calgary he performed?  Regardless – it is another alternate version of ‘Calgary’ that gets the deep and almost gritty voiced Justin Vernon as opposed to the more “Bon Iver-y” version from his latest album.  Enjoy.

Visit the Triple J Session HERE for a download of the video and a bit more info.

~Smansmith

Every once and a while (and I honestly mean only once and a while), I latch onto an album that isn’t quite a traditional “Slowcoustic” album.  For the last few months it has been the newest album from The Wooden Sky “Every Child A Daughter.  Every Moon A Sun”.  It is a spectacular album.  Period.

I wanted to make sure you are aware of the Scott Cudmore directed video series “Grace On A Hill” or “Grace On The Hill” – both titles are currently listed…so, I am not quite sure which is official.  Anyway, the series which features the band playing 5 tracks (currently at episode/track 3) needs to be seen because it is frickin’ fantastic.  I also might be extra biased towards the videos as I am still so enamoured with the album itself.  While it is still not a hard rockin’ album, it has moments so full of energy and passion that it doesn’t need 180 bpm drums and 4 guitarists wailing away – it’s energy is pulled from strong lyrics, sung with conviction and a soundtrack that ebbs and flows directly into the listener.  Truly an album on my best of 2012 list and am pretty sure it will remain there regardless of what else comes out this year.

Watch the current videos for the Grace On A Hill Series: 1) Bald, Naked and Red, 2) Child of the Valley and 3) Dancing at my window.

The Wooden Sky – Grace On A Hill Pt 1 – Bald, Naked and Red from Black Box Vimeo on Vimeo.

The Wooden Sky – Grace On A Hill Pt 2 – Child Of The Valley from Black Box Vimeo on Vimeo.

The Wooden Sky – Grace On A Hill Pt 3 – Dancing At My Window from Black Box Vimeo on Vimeo.
**UPDATED WITH EPISODE FOUR:

The Wooden Sky – Grace On A Hill Pt 4 – Malibu Rum from Black Box Vimeo on Vimeo.

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Find more from The Wooden Sky: Website | Facebook | Twitter

~Smansmith

Good Friday Coffee Drinking!

A little bit of this and a little bit of that – today being a holiday I am without focus as I am just excited to be in comfy clothes and drinking LOTS of coffee at will.  So I thought I would post a few items that have made an appearance in the last bit for your bag of mixed goodies this Good Friday.  Today we have three options for your listening enjoyment in Trotting Bear (with Andy Berkhout) and their video session at Show Me Shows, Pickering Pick doing a great Nick Drake Cover and the lead off track on the new Jos Fortin album!

First off, visuals to awake you gently with the beautiful sounds of St. Louis based Trotting Bear!

Trotting Bear – Feet On The Ground (A Show Me Show) from Jarred Gastreich on Vimeo.

Visit Trotting Bear: Facebook | Website/Bandcamp
Visit Andy Berkhout: Facebook | Website

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Next we have Sam Pickering Pick’s cover of Nick Drake’s ‘From The Morning’.  I mentioned on Twitter when I first heard the track that Pickering Pick lends to a perfect person to cover Nick Drake – it just feels right and easy coming from him.  And it’s a free download for all you mp3 hording types!

Visit Pickering Pick: Website/Bandcamp | Twitter

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Next we have the lead off track from the new album from the Canadian folkie’s new album ‘Typewriter’.  There is just something about the song ‘So Far’ – it is traditional sounding but feels so new…maybe the echoing electric guitar paired with acoustic while there is an almost ambient background swirling around you.  Stunning.

Visit Jos Fortin: Bandcamp | Web/Tumblr

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Enjoy your Friday folks, drink more coffee in comfy pants for me, K?

~Smansmith

ANDY SHAUF – Covered In Dust from Mitch Fillion (southernsouls.ca) on Vimeo.

Today we have a couple of videos from a couple of guys that know me as “that old guy they had coffee with in Calgary one day”.  Yeah, its not hard to think that way when you meet up with a couple of talented young musicians on a tour stop in Calgary.  Early last year Myself, Andy and Zachary visited a local coffee shop near my day job and we had good coffee, a couple of laughs and a good conversation.

Andy Shauf was kind enough to provide up one of his CDs and low and behold he has a new EP just out this week as well (see his bandcamp page for ‘Sam Jones Feeds His Demons’), so alongside the great Southern Souls video above take a listen to a new track from him below.  Side note is the video above includes the song ‘Covered in Dust’ which will be on Shauf’s next full length release.

Find out more on Andy Shauf: Website | Facebook | Twitter

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Zachary Lucky – ‘Saskatchewan’ (Street Folk Sessions) from James Maunder on Vimeo.

Next video is Zachary Lucky with a brand new video via the Street Folk Sessions in out in Hamilton, ON.  Lucky is currently on another cross Canada tour, this time in support of his excellent new EP ‘Saskatchewan’.  Fittingly, the song is the title track and is one of my favourite tracks this year.  Watch it above and stream it below.

Find more on Zachary Lucky: Website | Facebook | Twitter

~Smansmith

Just over a week ago we over at Yer Bird Records met up with Brock Mitchell for a video session for Tyler Butler.  Tyler made it down for the day as he had a house show that night and we juuuuuust squeaked in this video in time to get back to the venue for the house show only 2-3 minutes late.  If it wasn’t for the quick and talented Mitchell, we could have had a pretty surly crowd at the show!  That might be an exaggeration but overall it was a bit cold, a bit rushed but the results shown here in the video make no note of it at all.  A stunning video and the latest in the growing video series for Shot At The Dark.

Enjoy Tyler Butler playing “Plover” (pronounced “Pluh-ver”) from his album Winter King.  Please disregard the footage of vandalism by the artist starting around the 1:50 mark…

SHOT AT THE DARK – TYLER BUTLER from Shot at The Dark on Vimeo.
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Visit Shot At The Dark: Website
Visit Tyler Butler: Winter King Website | Facebook | Bandcamp

~Smansmith

Haven’t done a “new on the nets” round up in a while so I thought I would plunder other blogs and find out the good stuff and post it here.  Rules of the jungle baby.

• We Listen For You had their (now annual?) Showcase at SXSW and once again did it on the acoustic tip.  I can appreciate this.  I also appreciate Bro. Stephen, Radical Dads, Conveyer, Dent May, Miracles of Modern Science, Kevin Barnes and The Henry Clay People taking part.  Watch some video from the event on the recap HERE.

• HearYa has given the stamp of approval to Field Report (nee Conrad Plymouth) and I have to agree.  Already pretty much liking whatever Christopher Porterfield has done it does stand to reason.  Need proof?

• The new album from Cold Specks is fast approaching.  The album has been in the works for a long time and the release can’t come soon enough.  Quick Before It Melts had the latest track “Winter Solstice” up on his blog in anticipation of May 22nd release of I Predict A Graceful Expulsion.  Listen.

• Next we have Draw Us Lines with their own event for the amazing Jennifer O’Connor.  They posted a preview of the show they helped put on from this past week (so…then…here is your…ahhh…heads up??).  Always enjoyed O’Connor and so then I also say thanks for the heads up on this little beauty of a track.
  

• BoyHowdy over at Cover Lay Down did a bit of a recap of the Couch by Couchwest “Festival” and we (Yer Bird Records) got a shout out from him as well.  Check out their recap HERE.  As we had the amazing Hezekiah Jones video exclusive to CXCW for the festival, there was no embed of it on the Cover Lay Down post…so then, here is the Chris Bathgate cover from Hezekiah Jones’ most recent album.
  Hezekiah Jones :: Last Parade on Ann Street (Chris Bathgate Cover – CXCW 2012) from Yer Bird Records on Vimeo.

• So you have heard me yammering about the Kim Janssen album Ancient Crime a few times (currently my favourite overall album of 2012) and Snowstar Records has been tweeting/posting about videos for the album, so I had to check it out.  They just posted the stunning video for the track Blyth Farjeon Choir.  Might not be for everyone, but it is beautifully shot and it is a moving track.  Watch below.
  

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There you have it.  Just me catching up on what others are doing.  Others are doing quite well apparently…

~Smansmith

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This is simply perfect for those of us that are not attending the South by Southwest festivities in Austin this week.  I think I just might like my couch better though…

This video premiered over at Couch by Couchwest’s site, so go watch it there as well, make a comment and find massive amounts of other videos from the numerous talented CXCWsters!

Find more from Tyler Stenson: Website | Facebook | Twitter
Find more on Couch by Couchwest: Website | Facebook | Twitter

~Smansmith

Kim Janssen - photo by Matthijis van der Ven

Just in case you all missed it when I mentioned it on Twitter the other day (and why aren’t you following me on twitter?) – but Kim Janssen recently performed for the Onder Invloed project (translates to “Under the Influence” for us pesky English types).  Janssen decided to perform some covers in his patented delicate acoustic way.  Sounds good to me.

Kim Janssen – Passing Afternoon (Iron & Wine) from Onder Invloed on Vimeo.

Kim Janssen – White Center (Damien Jurado) from Onder Invloed on Vimeo.

Kim Janssen – Priests And Paramedics (Pedro The Lion) from Onder Invloed on Vimeo.

I have really been enjoying these videos lately along with Janssen’s new album Ancient Crime – so this is why you have been getting some extra love for Janssen on the blog this past week…it is just soo good…

~Smansmith

Today sees the release of Kim Janssen’s album Ancient Crime from Snowstar Records over in the Netherlands.  It is a concept album and that concept might be stunningly gorgeous music…no really.  I have been looking forward to this album for a few months now and after more than a few listens it has become one to beat for best album of the year so far.

So when I mentioned my lame “concept album” reference above it is because it is in fact described as one in all honesty.  The album as outlined by artist and label as:

It is a album inspired by his years on boarding school in Asia. ‘Ancient Crime’ is a concept album that takes place in an old idyllic school, in a remote village in north-west England during the winter. A mixture of history, myth, memories, old and new verses and arrangements.

This is not lost on you when listening as it is extremely delicate, formal and hits a nice balance of instrumental band tracks with more traditional (yet just as grand) vocal tracks.  If I am not mistaken the album is 10 tracks and 5 are essentially instrumentals – this may immediately make many pause but the strong points in this album are so strong that they literally pull the entire album together.  I normally am not a huge fan of these interludes/ambient moments on albums and Ancient Crime has its fair share, but with tracks like ‘Drift’, ‘Tors’, ‘Casket’ and ‘Holmes’ Bonfire 1966′ being so stunning you just want more from this artist/album that the interludes fill that void left by what could effectively be an EP release if he so wanted.

The songs Drift and Tors have made appearances on Slowcoustic already and they lead the pack on the album as the truly top notch tracks.  Drift is currently my favourite track of 2012 so far…by a long shot.  Take a listen to it below:

And Janssen has recently performed it live, so let’s take a look at it as well!

There is a 10 second ad prior to the performance…just hold on!

The song Drift is a good measure of the sound and overall feel of the Ancient Crime album – it is a floating pensive moment put to a beautiful backdrop of acoustics, instruments, choirs and Janssen’s feather soft vocals.  It might be Janssen’s cadence and breathy delivery that makes you feel comfortable and at home in these songs…it just so happens he has crafted a beautiful pallet of music to coincide with.  Take a listen to ‘Tors’ below to get the full effect of the instrumentation of which I speak.

Again, the album from this co-member of the band The Black Atlantic (yes, that Kim Janssen!) is truly a “best new music” and comes highly recommended.

Find more on Kim Janssen: Facebook | Bandcamp
Purchase Ancient Crime: Bandcamp | Snowstar Records

~Smansmith

Last year’s “Generous Shadows” from The Tree Ring was a personal favourite.  With songs (and videos) like ‘Wore It Deep’ they certainly prove a sense of imagination, beauty and essentially great song-crafting.  Well yesterday one of my online brothers (Adrian from I Pick My Nose Blog) gave me the heads up on a new video from The Tree Ring from a recent “Hike-In Show” they performed that is of a new track from a new upcoming album.  You gotta watch and fall in love with TTR all over again.

THE TREE RING: HIKE-IN SHOW from Destin Daniel Cretton on Vimeo.

Find out more on The Tree Ring: Website | Facebook | Bandcamp

~Smansmith

P.S.  Lead singer Joel P West also has some solo stuff worth checking out – see a couple of posts we had here and here.

This is a video from last year that I have personally ripped the audio from and have been listening for a while in preparation for the upcoming Kim Janssen album.  This video is Janssen playing the traditional folk tune “Wild Bill Jones” as if Sam Amidon was playing it.  You know what?  He is spot on and it is a great tune from the Into The Great Wide Open Festival in 2011.  The song starts at around the 0:34 mark for those that don’t speak the native tongue.

Keep an eye on on Snowstar Records for more info on that new album due in March.

~Smansmith

Today’s song of the day is from Zachary Lucky and his track “Back in the Fall” from his upcoming album Saskatchewan (some say EP, some say LP, some say who the hell cares, just let us hear it already).

The song is simply fantastic.  Whether it is the lazy banjo, the pedal steel or the honest delivery (when his voice just starts to crack when he first sings “Back in the Fall” – it’s killer).  The song is seems like it is not necessarily a story about a past relationship rather than a mantra to himself about life moving on…and its okay.  It just also happens to be painfully gorgeous.

You can pre-order his album ‘Saskatchewan’ from his Bandcamp page HERE and find out if he is visiting your hometown via his tour dates on his website HERE.

Bonus for y’all is a live video I took of this song at a recent house show Zachary did here in Calgary about a month ago, enjoy.

~Smansmith

Tyler Butler joins the crew over at our label Yer Bird Records and re-releases ‘Winter King’ on March 20th, 2012!

If you are reading Slowcoustic on a regular basis, you already know of Mr. Butler from Edmonton and we are very excited to bring one of our favourite albums of last year home to us over at Yer Bird Records.  We are re-releasing it with a couple of ‘bonus tracks’ as well!  The bonus tracks are a newly recorded version of “Feral Horse” from his previous EP Feral Horse plus the previously unheard title track ‘Winter King’.  All in all we couldn’t be happier here at Slowcoustic/Yer Bird Records with having Tyler on board as this album is simply amazing.  See a quick teaser trailer below plus the track listing.

Tyler Butler :: Winter King (March 20, 2012) from Yer Bird Records on Vimeo.

1) Barghest*
2) Morana*
3) Child-Ghost*
4) House Painter*
5) Waxwing
6) Kingfisher
7) Plover
8) Sparrow
9) Feral Horse (Winter King Version)
10) Winter King (previously un-released)

(*Re-Mastered for the 2012 release)

You also might want to check out a new video for Plover recorded in conjunction with this re-release over on the new Winter King website.  We will be uploading a video performance of all 8 of the original tracks on this site over the next few weeks!  For now also enjoy the newly remastered ‘Morana’ below.

Tyler Bulter: “Morana” by Yer Bird Records

~Smansmith

Canadian Matt Paxton has a new single from the good folks at Other Songs Music and it is a free download from their Bandcamp page.  The song was finalized late last year with the help from Scott Orr (of Other Songs Music) and features guest vocals by Allison Geleynse.  Its a beauty and I look forward to more from Paxton (you can catch a previous album on his own bandcamp here).

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Next we have another look into what we can expect from the upcoming Kim Janssen album Ancient Crime that should see a release from Snowstar Records on March 9th, 2012 (despite their website saying Jan. 26th…typo?).  We previously posted on the stunning lead off single “Tors” (see here) and with the new live performance of ‘Drift’ via InDeKringloop.nl, I have to say I am getting very excited about the album!

Enjoy your hump day by relaxing to these two new tracks already!

~Smansmith

Water Liars (formerly ‘Phantom Limb’) are Andrew Bryant and Justin Kinkel-Schuster and they have an album coming up on Misra Records in March.  Just found out and just started to pine for it.  Just saying.

Both musicians have been featured on Slowcoustic prior (Andrew Bryant | Justin Kinkel-Schuster) and so this has to be a good thing…right?  You might also know of Justin as the singer for the band Theodore, so there is that as well to entice you.  So far I have only heard the below acoustic videos of a couple of tracks and admittedly the word is that the album versions are a bit different, but these sound soo good.  So consider this fair warning.  Water Liars – March 5th, 2012 on Misra Records.

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Remember, don’t get confused with the name change – they are Water Liars and the album is Phantom Limb (it was formerly going to be a self titled album….make sense?).

Find out more on Water Liars: Misra Records | Facebook | Twitter (I assume the name change will happen here at some point)

~Smansmith

We/Or/Me - Photo by Bobby Aazami

Today is a quick post on a repeat offender around here in a song & video of the day from Bahhaj Taherzadeh (or We/Or/Me).  His most recent album is called Sleeping City and it came out midway through last year.  As you can expect it comes with great slowed down harmonies and almost lullabye infused folk.  Sounds about right for a man who now has twin girls at home…

Listen to “Sun Came Up” from We/Or/Me below:

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Sun Came Up by we/or/me from Ramin Eshraghi Yazdi on Vimeo.

You can find more from Bahhaj over on his Website as well as his Bandcamp Page (I recommend the CD bundle for Sleeping City with Ghostwriter!).

~Smansmith

p.s.  Ramin Eshraghi Yazdi who made the video above also did a more recent video from the same album “Across the Country” and he is apparently from right here in Calgary!  Nice.

Zachary Lucky and Carly Maicher (two of my current favourite Canadian acts) are going to be here in Calgary tomorrow.  The show is at the House of Commons which is literally 3 blocks from where I am typing this.  So I don’t really have an excuse, right?

Zachary Lucky

Lucky has just finished mixing his new album “Saskatchewan”, so we can hope to expect some new material with addition to his stellar back catalog including his amazing 2010 album “Come and Gone”.  Speaking of which, you can swing by his Bandcamp page to purchase a recent live performance that will benefit the printing/promotion of the new album by visiting that release here.

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Carly Maicher

This week I also received my hand silk screened CD copy of Carly Maicher’s album “Hiding” – a nice little post holiday gift to myself!  This album is another folk, singer-songwriter gem from the prairies and was a surprise/out of nowhere late year find.  This album is absolutely stunning and comes very highly recommended.

Lucky assists on Maicher’s album and Maicher assists on the new live recording from Lucky as well.  So what could be better than both playing together here in Calgary tomorrow.  I would say just about nothing.

Facebook Event
(House of Commons – 6435-Bow Crescent NW)

Zachary Lucky: Bandcamp | Facebook | Twitter
Carly Maicher: Bandcamp | Facebook | Twitter

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

Today we have the honour of premiering a track from the soundtrack of the upcoming film “Brunswick” set for limited release next week.  But before we get into the music created by Matthew Carefully for the film, you will need a bit of back story of what Brunswick is.

Synopsis:

Brunswick is a film about landscape change, told through the personal story of a farmer’s lifelong connection to his now-threatened land. The film weaves together the plight of Sanford Bonesteel, an aging farmer in his 90s, with the dynamics of small-town politics as a residential development is planned on Sanford’s former land.

The film takes place in Brunswick, New York, a small country town facing the challenge of balancing economic growth with the preservation of its rural character. It is a story both specific to Brunswick and yet recognizable to rural communities all over the United States.

So now you see the title of the track ‘Farm Prayer’ really makes sense here – both a beautiful full song in acoustics and meaning.  Before I say I have a strong connection to the American Farmer, you have to know I am Canadian, but from a small town with numerous farms and I see the nature of today’s world reflected in what today’s farmers are experiencing.  Some say that the future can’t be stopped and today’s (re: the future’s) world isn’t meant to be slow & meandering, lazy walks through wheat fields, the life that you live from and of the earth…if I was to say.  Sure there are pockets of the true rural communities around today, but I fear they are becoming a different beast now.  Sometimes progress can be needed and sometimes it is just painful in the transition.  Ahhh me, always one to be living in the city while always having a mind steeped in a rural state of mind.  But enough about it, watch the trailer below:

The Soundtrack

The soundtrack from Matthew Carefully (Bandcamp page) is as you would expect it would be.  Full of acoustic performances – 6 of which are instrumental and 4 that provide lyrics over layers of strings.  All have been written specifically for the project over the last 5 years and aren’t just sounds that looked good and happened to match with visuals.  These songs reflect the heart of a movie like Brunswick – I can only assume that the way you feel listening to the album would be the way you would experience the film.

Carefully provides a truly rural aura that flows throughout the album – it isn’t always a sombre affair with songs that truly make you think of the country lifestyle ‘Homestead Farm Bustle‘ to the heartbreaking instrumental ‘Well-Wished Waltz‘ through the banjo laden duet with Carefully and Katie Hammon on the opening track ‘Walks With Purpose‘.  I don’t know how the movie ends, but with one listen to the last track from the album in the instrumental ‘He Walks Away, Sincere’ it leaves you with a sense of hope and almost peace…probably one of the most beautiful tracks on the whole album.

The song below is my favourite on the soundtrack as I think it sums up the subject matter and the overall feel for the music on this movie.  ‘Farm Prayer’ brings the power of an instrumental but with Carefully’s pining lyrics of remembering what was is no longer.  Listen to just over 2 minutes what rural/country/farm living used to mean.

“Farm Prayer” – from the Soundtrack to Brunswick, by Matthew Carefully

For more information on the Movie from film maker Nate Simms, visit www.BrunswickFilm.com.

For more information on Matthew Carefully (and a full back catalog info) visit him on his Website and read about the experience of making the album from his blog space HERE.

~Smansmith

The Living Room Sessions presents Jeffrey Foucault from Pastime Productions on Vimeo.

~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

Mid 2010 found Tyler Butler recording a new-to-me session (I actually just found it the other day) for his Feral Horse EP that was released in January 2010.  I wanted to touch on this release as I tend to get wrapped up in his newer album Winter King and forget the amazing debut by this Edmonton singer songwriter.

I wanted to post these two videos because they are great songs and let’s face it, they are still new to me so I am in the honeymoon phase of ‘new’ things.  As I tend to enjoy the stripped down fully acoustic versions of songs, these live solo videos do this in fine fashion and almost comes across as an alternate version.  Currently my favourite of the two is the title track Feral Horse as it is truly a finger picking sombre track – so then, right up my alley.  Check both videos and a stream below.

The Edmo Sessions Vol 6 – Tyler Butler – Feral Horse from Daelan Wood on Vimeo.

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The Edmo Sessions Vol 6 – Tyler Butler – Maythorn from Daelan Wood on Vimeo.

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Tell me that isn’t great?  Well thanks to The Edmo Sessions for providing these great videos and an early look into Tyler Butler’s excruciating talent.  Find them online here and the Tyler Butler session here.

Find more songs by Tyler Butler: Bandcamp

~Smansmith

Not too much actually connecting the 3 musicians in this post other than I have been listening and wanted to post on them.

First off, Bryan John Appleby stopped by the folks at I Am Fuel, You Are Friends blog to record a Chapel Session and recorded my favourite track of the new album (take a spin through the sessions and lose your shit).  The BJA track is ‘Noah’s Nameless Wife’ and you can watch/stream it below.

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Also, one of my friends passed on some albums from Mark Wynn out of the UK and I have been enjoying the country twinged folk it has been supplying.  Mark Wynn has a couple of new releases including the album ‘Stories, Rags & Stomps’ – so it plays pretty much the full gambit of this Slowcoustic friendly genre.  Take a swing by his Bandcamp Page to a listen or simply play ‘Sad Stoned (fallin in the street) below:

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Now Ryan Adams has a new album and for the most part all I have read is good things about it.  Don’t get me wrong here, I mean I like it because I feel it is a return to roots sound for him.  I think it is a more thought out album compared to some recent material and despite the guy himself (“honest, I’m quitting music”), he can make a good tune when he needs to.
Do I Wait by ryanadams
I Love You But I Don’t Know What To Say by ryanadams
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That is all I got for now, but come on, it’s pretty good, no?

~Smansmith

I am kind of having a Gregory Alan Isakov moment.  Okay, I am fully having a moment.  Always been a fan of this guy (why isn’t he famous anyway) and after receiving my vinyl copy of “That Empty Northern Hemisphere”, I just can’t get enough.  God damn…the combination of his voice and perfect harmonies is almost overwhelming at times.  He has pitch perfect delivery to go alongside his ever pining acoustic ballads – even if they aren’t all really ballads per se.  I thought you all needed to be immersed in Isakov today as well, so to be sure you are aware, he did a great FRUK session a couple of months back during is UK tour.  Every track recorded below proves the weight he carries as a top tier singer songwriter.

Gregory Alan Isakov – The Stable Song (Folk Radio UK Session) by Folk Radio UK
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Gregory Alan Isakov – Virginia May (Folk Radio UK Session) by Folk Radio UK
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Gregory Alan Isakov – evelyn (Folk Radio UK Session) by Folk Radio UK
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Gregory Alan Isakov – that moon song (Folk Radio UK Session) by Folk Radio UK

~ and a new track ~
Gregory Alan Isakov – second chances (Folk Radio UK Session) by Folk Radio UK
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Also, you have to hear his track performed at Miss Peapods in Cornwall during the aforementioned tour (love the vocals in this one).

Gregory Alan Isakov, The Universe from before the winter fires on Vimeo.

Visit Gregory Alan Isakov: Website | Facebook | Twitter
Purchase albums/shirts at his online store

~Smansmith

Rabbit Island : Chris Bathgate : Everything (Overture) from Mostly Midwest on Vimeo.

Nuff said.

~Smansmith

p.s.  How about that Upper Peninsula area in the video??  Makes a Canadian proud to see that kind of landscape!

If there is something I appreciate, it is a great sense of instrumentation, harmonies and use of acoustics in my “folk” music selections.  Small Houses (or Jeremy Quentin as the government knows him) includes all these things in his sound.  Quentin has recently been added to our ‘featured videos’ on the front page for a great session of Country Flowers from the new album and this is the official “you should listen to…” post on it.  So then, you know I am a fan of Small Houses and that I think this is a good record.  You should be counting down the days until October 6th.

The album ‘North’ is almost a combination of Small Houses songs that have been in the works for a while because if you follow this Michigan artist, you will see familiar songs titles…all have been reworked and sing anew.  The songs sound a bit more dense, you can dig into them and hear them all over again.  Songs like “Late July” now include crisp piano and pedal/lap steel that really makes all the difference. You have a couple of instrumental tracks and even an upbeat version of “In the Lawn” – which you know has come to be from the energy of live shows.

There is also a plethora of contributions throughout the record from fellow musicians like Chris Bathgate on mandolin, Samantha Crain joining in on vocals and even Phil D’Agostino (of Hezekiah Jones) on bass among numerous others.

Personal favourites include “Late July”, “The Ground, It’s Glass”, “North” and “Country Flowers”, so look out for them when you pick up the record.  So for now enjoy a full track-isting, video from the Small Houses Bridgehouse Session and the title track to the new album below;

1) The First Year After
2) Instrumental #1
3) Country Flowers
4) I and My Maker
5) Late July
6) In the Lawn
7) Instrumental #2
8) Tired and Twenty Cities
9) The Ground It’s Glass
10) North (mp3)

~

Small Houses Bridgehouse Session Pt. 3 (Late July) from Mostly Midwest on Vimeo.

Find more Small Houses: Website | Facebook | Twitter
Purchase Small Houses: iTunes | Bandcamp

Check the CD release shows for you Michigan folks below

MICHIGAN CD RELEASE SHOWS (w/ Paleo):

Oct. 5 – The Local Music Show (Radio) – Ann Arbor, MI
Oct. 6 – The Strutt – Kalamazoo, MI (w/ Paleo, Fiona D, and Gitis Baggs)
Oct. 7 – Scene Metrospace – Lansing, MI (w/ Paleo and Sacred Strays)
Oct. 8 – House Show – Albion, MI (w/Paleo and Reef Theory)
Oct. 9 – Dreamland Theater – Ypsilanti, MI

~Smansmith

Iron and Wine perform ‘He Lays in the Reins’ on Sound Opinions from WBEZ on Vimeo.

Just a track that I have always liked since the collaboration between Iron & Wine and Calexico some years ago.  This track has just always been a favourite for some reason.  I have a couple versions that have circulated around for a while and thought I would make a stab at it being a favourite for you as well.

“He Lays in the Reins (Home Sessions)” – Iron & Wine
“He Lays in the Reins (live at the Triple Door)” – Iron & Wine with Calexico

Tell me that isn’t a great tune?

~Smansmith

Meursault are due for an album and I think it just might be around in the next bit – but who knows with these band types.  HA, just kidding (not really), but Matthew at Song, by Toad brought to my attention a new Location Music TV session with Neil Pennycook from Meursault…and it was real good.  Real good.  Neil has been on Location Music TV before and we had that video up previously (here) – so you can see by that post in April, the album is still in the works.  As I mention in the previous post linked, the songs are most likely not going to be these acoustic versions, but god damn I had to post them anyway.   Watch both of them below.

Now, did I not say ‘god damn’?  Visit Meursault and pick up the newly mastered red vinyl release of their newest album “All Creatures Will Make Merry” at Song, by Toad Records here.  You can also catch a recent performance via our good friends over at The Waiting Room here.

~Smansmith

p.s.  Large banner image from front page obtained from Stereokill.net (see their post here)

Yesterday I was tweeting with Greg over at Captains Dead (yes, grown ass men tweet like they are 14 year old girls on an unlimited texting plan….no offense to 14 year old girls intended) and realized that this Mount Moriah band are pretty much kick ass.  But I digress…

Mount Moriah’s latest full length album is a 8 track self titled affair that was released earlier this year in April.  While it took me a couple months to really catch on to it, it has in turn really caught hold of me.  Now, with the August 30th release of a collection of live tracks, this band is creeping up my favourite new bands of 2011 list as well.  I did post earlier on the pretty damn awesome video for “Old Gowns” here, but with that song easily being a Slowcoustic favourite it doesn’t speak to the full sound of Mount Moriah.  This new live 6 track recording from last December is what I feel Mount Moriah ‘really sound like’.  They are a bit rock, a bit shoe-gazey and as you would expect on this blog, they have a touch of folk…if not only in the selection of some instruments as opposed to overall sound.  Its quite refreshing for me to listen to more of a full band album once and a while and this year’s releases from Mount Moriah are two of my favourites.

Listen to a couple of tracks;

And a bonus, here is a video I found late last night from an on air performance from Minnesota Public Radio’s 89.3 The Current.

The new “Live at Local 506″ is available for $4.00 at their Bandcamp page HERE – please swing by and pick up a copy.

Visit Mount Moriah: Website | Facebook | Bandcamp |

~Smansmith

I think the title of the post precludes what is happening on this post.  So let’s get on with it.

Brand new video for Dolorean’s “Black Hills Gold” premiered yesterday on IFC.  There is a whole backstory with the video in a way mirroring the life of Dennis Wilson (of the Beach Boys).  Check it out below.

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Next we have William Elliott Whitmore’s homage to the American Farm worker and title track to his latest album ‘Field Songs’.  I actually didn’t know this official video even existed until I saw it over on Common Folk Music yesterday (see here).  It even put me over the edge and I finally ordered the vinyl (and t-shirt) from the WEW online store.  Well worth it.  Watch the video below and don’t miss the money shot for the last 12 seconds.

There you have your video Thursday.  Both songs above are included in my ‘Favourite Albums of 2011′ at this point…and the year is running out of time for anyone to have the chance to push ‘em out.

Visit Dolorean on their website.
Visit William Elliott Whitmore on his website.

~Smansmith

I thought today I would do a bit of a blogger round up of for ‘items of note’ that I have noticed, and you should as well.  Well, enough about me…let’s send you other places than Slowcoustic!

• Did y’all see the Wilderness of Manitoba did a HearYa Session?  Well they did, and its available for your waiting ears right here.  Sample:
  
  The Wilderness of Manitoba – Hermit from HearYa.com on Vimeo.
• My good friends over at Mostly Midwest did me another solid and put up even more videos of Chris Bathgate.  Damn, there are lots of vids to choose from from MM, so dig into the most recent pair of acoustic performances from Bathgate right here.  Sample # 1:
  
  Chris Bathgate : Farm Block Session Pt. 2 from Mostly Midwest on Vimeo.
• Martin (or Geordie as he blogs as) at You Crazy Dreamers put up a nice post on Red Heart the Ticker’s new album along with a mp3 from it!  Check out the post on some great old school folk right here.
• The East representing the West over on Herohill as they cover Calgary sweetheart and soon to be music staple Samantha Savage Smith’s new album.  Swing by and check out a track and their take on ‘what’s next’ in Canadian music right here.  Sample a track below:
  Samantha Savage Smith – “You Always Come to Mind” (mp3)

Enjoy your Friday with good music and the great bloggers above!

~Smansmith

Today’s song & video of the day came out of nowhere, but from a familiar place – always nice when that happens.  Creeping on music forums is one of the best ways to find music – you tend to get a lot of suggestions and the people tend to know what they are talking about.  Then, I look into it and I find a video via the good folks at Love Drunk Studios (where I first ‘saw’ the band Kill County – another winner in this category).  The song is “Man Pt. 1″ from the one man band ‘South of Lincoln’.

On a side note, I actually drove through Lincoln on my honeymoon road trip and both me and my wife felt that it was the type of place we would love to live in.  Albeit from the 20 minutes in downtown getting coffee to the small divey motel on the outskirts of the town – we had it all figured out & decided!  I guess we now have more reason to revisit that plan of moving a bit further south…

Aaaaaaannnnyyyywaaaayy, this song of the day gets double treatment with audio and video – this is a good thing as well because you get the more produced version in the Soundcloud stream below and then you get a great fully acoustic version via the video.  This one man band is made up of the talented Max Holmquist who brings an ease of creating music that instantly creates a connection – you have to immediately enjoy the stark honesty and harmony that is provided in spades.  The sound can be described as a modern day storytelling folk country troubadour (I tried to fit in more words but it just got out of hand) and by his own admission gives influences of Neko Case, Damien Jurado & M. Ward – pretty good models to hone your craft if I had to say.  As I have literally just started listening to the album I can’t really make full observation on the early 2011 release, but from what I have heard – it is sounding frickin’ good.

South of Lincoln has a new EP that was just released called “The Monsters/Bathroom Sessions” but I can’t really find anything on it…so if anyone wants to point me in the direction to a purchase, I would be much appreciated!!

Please take a moment, listen, fall in love with it and then swing by the good folks at Hear Nebraska for more information and ‘Like’ him on his Facebook page to show your support for great music.  You can pick up the ‘Homes’ album via iTunes by clicking HERE.

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Man, Pt. I by South of Lincoln
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South of Lincoln: Man Pt. 1 from Love Drunk on Vimeo.

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EDIT: The Monsters/Bathrooom Sessions on iTunes!!

~Smansmith

Small Houses swung by the good folks over at Halfway House and recorded a session at the Stone House Studios.  Sorry, had to type it out again.  But seriously, Jeremy Quentin (Small Houses) has been ’round these parts previously (see here, here & here) with his acoustic folk stylings and once again he shows why I enjoy listening soo much.  His Halfway House Session includes 3 tracks including a Tom Waits cover.  The two original tracks chosen, Late July and In the Lawn are two of his best – these 2 tracks show his guitar work, vocals/lyrics and are a great barometer for his sound.  You won’t be disappointed.  Watch a video for Late July below and head over to watch the other two and download all 3 tracks completely gratis.

Small Houses – Late July – Halfway House Sessions from Halfway House on Vimeo.

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Swing by Halfway House to see more (and additional sessions by White Pines, Frontier Ruckus, Hezekiah Jones & Chris Bathgate in their archive!).
Visit Small Houses via his Website, Twitter and Bandcamp pages.

~Smansmith

A little self promotion is never bad.  Right?  RIGHT?

So my little label over at Yer Bird Records is starting a trend in having at least one long weekend 2 for 1 special each year on all our wares and it is happening right now.  Purchase the new Hezekiah Jones LP?  Why not have the new Ghosts I’ve Met LP thrown in for good measure?  Yeah, its great stuff.  LPs, CDs and digital downloads – its the wild west over there this weekend.  See our home page on the label site HERE for more information!

How about a new video performance of a track from the new Pickering Pick album to sway you?  Pickering Pick’s new album “Tiger Balm” is one of the most gorgeous albums you will hear and he is very quickly becoming the master of the lamented ballad.  Something I don’t take lightly.  Sam Pickering Pick was just abroad visiting family and his uber talented sister thought to video a performance of “I Didn’t Know Your Rivers Flowed”.   We will soon be having an extremely limited promotional CD give away for the Tiger Balm album – so if you like what you see/hear below, you will want to swing back very soon.  See the new video below:

I Didn’t Know Your Rivers Flowed from Sera Pickering Pick on Vimeo.

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How about a Yer Bird Records Soundcloud set for you to sway you into releasing all your funds to my pocket…and I guess the artists too…. ;-)

Pickering Pick – “Like A River” by Yer Bird Records
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Ghosts I’ve Met – “Blackwoods” by Yer Bird Records
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Hezekiah Jones – “The Last Parade on Ann St. (Chris Bathgate Cover)” by Yer Bird Records
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Greater Pacific – “Distance” by Yer Bird Records
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White Pines: “Woods” by Yer Bird Records
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The Black Atlantic: “Ella (Live)” by Yer Bird Records
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Sharon Van Etten: “Say So What” by Yer Bird Records
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~Smansmith

Thought I would point you all in the direction of fellow Calgarians ‘Welcome to the West‘ today.  I am doing this today of all days due to two fantastic videos they have had on their site recently.  In all honestly I was just going to post the ‘pool party post folk fest’ video, but then saw a nice new Sumner Brothers video and I can’t ignore that!

Welcome to the West focuses on just that, the West of Canada’s music scene – not necessarily Canadian content exclusively, but they do show off that talent often as well.  The video below for The Head and the Heart was filmed after the Calgary Folk Fest just this last weekend in the stairwell of the Westin Calgary and it turned out fantastic – the acoustics of the acoustics came out quite well…you could say.  Watch it now:

the Head and the Heart – Winter Song from Welcome To The West on Vimeo.

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Now this morning I went to grab the above video and noticed a new video from Vancouver’s The Sumner Brothers…can’t resist! The ever touring brothers are on the road promoting their upcoming album “I Love You, Smile” which I am eagerly anticipating. Check out the crazy Kimball Organ in the video as well…

The Sumner Brothers – Lose Your Mind from Welcome To The West on Vimeo.

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So there you have it, visit Welcome to the West on their website here.  Check out their archives here.
Visit The Head and the Heart here.
Visit The Sumner Brothers here.

~Smansmith

p.s.  check out the logo design for WttW from Charles Roberts here.

Discovered this little gem of an EP from the good folks over at Natural Beardy (thx NB!  See their post here) and thought I would share it with you as well.   So after listening over with the bearded ones, I immediately picked up the 2009 6-track EP ‘Shoes for Men and Beasts’ via their Bandcamp page and it has been playing all weekend at Slowcoustic HQ.  There also looks to be a new album that should be surfacing very soon (complete with sample track for streaming/purchase) via a recent successful Kickstarter campaign.

The song Cliffs Along the Sea track is a beautiful acoustic track that actually makes for a great live take…in a boat…or something…

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If you like the above track, you would definitely enjoy the tracks “Pride of Man”, “The Silent Shepherd” and “The Rider, the Horse, the Land” from the EP as well.  So what are you waiting for?

~Smansmith

Happy go lucky dog enthusiasts The Black Atlantic have essentially premiered two new songs from an upcoming release via the Kapelsessies.nl video series.  Gone is the tip toeing through the fields here folks, we get a possible movement in what could have been the slower folkier sound of previous TBA – noticed especially in Lead Geert van der Velde’s vocals at least – there is new energy in these songs!  I am very excited to see what comes of the new material – it seems like the sound is growing, but not too fast as to leave any current fans behind.

Enjoy the tracks “Darkling, I Listen” and “The Flooded Road” followed up with a return to their Reverence For Fallen Trees album with the track “Heirloom“.

Kapelsessies: The Black Atlantic from Kapelsessies Gelderland on Vimeo.

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Just in case you don’t make it the entire way to the end of the video, find the track Heirloom (mp3) for your listening pleasure!

Find The Black Atlantic: Website, Facebook, MySpace and follow them on Twitter.

~Smansmith

• Today is the release of William Elliott Whitmore’s “Field Songs” over on Anti Records.  If you enjoy your music on the rootsy side, banjo side and the folk country side – then this album is a no brainer.  The songs of Whitmore can be at times a tad too ‘raucous crooner’ but it is almost like he is taking a moment to breathe and the music is both powerful, a bit gritty and a worthy listen.  The vocals of Whitmore are perfect for this mid tempo folk country and they just hit the spot soo much on this album – his patented twang and warble just damn work on Field Songs!!
  William Elliott Whitmore – Everything Gets Gone by antirecords
• 
  
• Brett Detar recently released a video of himself attempting a cover song.  And by ‘attempting’, he did a fantastic job.  Watch him covering a classic in the form of Townes Van Zandt’s ‘Waiting Around to Die’ below:
  
  
• And for one of the best deals in town right now, you gotta swing by Ondarock to pick up the latest compilation, One Way Ticket to Nowhere.  This one is based on their ‘Outlaw’ series where artists cover an outlaw country/folk artist.  It is 2CDs worth of tracks from folks like Great Lake Swimmers, Chris Kasper, Caleb Coy and The Sumner Brothers (among many, many others).  Oh, did I mention it was completely FREE?  Yeah, so what are you waiting for?
• Keep your eye on that Adult Swim “2011 Singles Club” thingy as I believe that track from The Tallest Man on Earth is being released as a free download today sometime as well.  The page for the current and upcoming tracks is right here.  For now, stream ‘Weather of a Killing Kind’ below:
  

That is all I have for now, hope you enjoy it all!

~Smansmith

Mount Moriah – Old Gowns from Hueism Pictures on Vimeo.

Finally getting a listen to the self titled release from Mount Moriah from earlier this year.  The video for ‘Old Gowns’ was released about 6 months prior to the actual album but the track is still definitely the stand out and the video is stunning.  Lots of slow spanning, shadow play, out of focus & crystal clear shots all leading up to the ‘money shot’ at about 4:20.  I’m a sucker for beautifully shot videos that ebb and flow before the crux of a song…  Drink it in folks.

Find out more on Mount Moriah on their website or facebook.

Purchase at their label: Holidays For Quince.

~Smansmith

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NEW stuff from The Deep Dark Woods’ upcoming album The Place I Left Behind:
(album due August 2nd on Six Shooter Records)

“Westside Street”
(see more info on the new album and tour dates via Exclaim.ca)

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Herohill vs. Gordon Lightfoot: Turning Back The Pages Of My Sweet Shattered Dreams

In an homage to the great Canadian Singer Songwriters Herohill is feeling like Gordon Lightfoot can be taken, well, lightly.  Not true says the crew on the hill (among almost all of Canada) and they show you 36 reasons why Mr. Lightfoot is a legend in the great white north.  Visit the epic post on Herohill HERE.  Also, we have a song from this massive compilation (that is a fully free download folks) that hits home with local Cam Penner!

“Alberta Bound (Gordon Lightfoot Cover)” – Cam Penner (with Jon Wood)

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Also, as I really had nothing to do with or coverage of NXNE this year, I really needed to show some love to one of Canada’s largest musical events.  Yesterday I noticed one of my Saskatchewan favs Zachary Lucky linked to an ‘in the park’ performance he had while in T.O. for the event.  The video is below along with new favourite Bellewoods that I found from the same afternoon performance (see them all at The Humble Empire YouTube Channel)!

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There you have some Canucks for your Canada Day. Please enjoy!

~Smansmith

The thing is, it was posted on June 10th, 2011.  My birthday.  So, once again, thank you very much.

J. Tillman | Firstborn | A Take Away Show from La Blogotheque on Vimeo.

Just Sayin.

~Smansmith

When you lay out the music that swings through the numerous channels here at Slowcoustic it can be overwhelming.  But you splay it all out and you pick a few things that catch your ear for one of many reasons.  So, this is simply a post to provide a few things that I thought you all might enjoy as my Slowcousticals.  Enjoy some Canadiana.

Canada has been impressing me lately, what with the Polaris Prize nominations and such.  And to show some love back to the fact that Frederick Squire made the long list (here we come short list!!) I have to pass on some of his newer magic.  Also, as not all things Slowcoustic and Canadian get to be soo lucky, I think they also need some singling out as sometimes it isn’t all about awards but just about good music as well.  So it is time to pass on some love for Canada (please, no Vancouver riot jokes, please..).

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While this is the brand new FS (not the currently nominated Polaris Prize Long Lister – see some love for it here) it is once again proving that he is going to be one of my all time favourites very soon.  Like by this afternoon.  Whatever.  The new album was recorded a little while ago with a sparse arrangements of instruments and recording equipment…just the way I like it.  The result is a stunningly beautiful collection of forgiveness laments.  Not always warm and fuzzy when it comes to songwriting with Squire – but he always seems to find the beauty in the ugly moments and possibly assists in having them more acceptable and then to the listeners, empathy.  Highly recommended.  Recommended highly.  See a bit more information here.

UPDATE: Purchase the album at Zunior HERE.

“All Things Past Serve To Guide You On Your Way” – Frederick Squire
from Frederick Squire Sings Shenandoah and Other Popular Hits (2011, Blue Fog Recordings)

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The Bravest Ghost is more of the younger singer songwriter crowd emerging from Canada and I like what I am hearing.  Sean Craib-Petkau brings finger picking acoustics, atmospheric backgrounds and a voice beyond his days.  There is a new album on the way entitled Nicotine Hymns, but for now, please swing by and pick up the excellent Nicotine Hymns Demos on his Bandcamp page.  For now, watch and listen to a track from his ‘I Left Home’ album that is you all can grab for FREE RIGHT HERE.

The Bravest Ghost – Northline from Emily Kohlert on Vimeo.

Mp3: “North Line” – The Bravest Ghost, from 2010′s “I Life Home” (Self-Released)

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Another regular around these parts who also finds himself in the up and comer category of Canadian singer-songwriter folk types is The Mountains & The Trees.  TM&TT is the moniker of Jon Janes who hails from a much more Easterly location in this fair county than I.  Regardless of the distance, he creates true indie folk tunes that you can’t deny.  Sometimes a bit quirky, sometimes a bit heartbreaking and all around a great listen.  I have included a track that is currently unreleased but will most likely find a home on a new release by the end of the year.  Need to know more?  Please sign up for his mailing list here (to get treats like the below track) and find him via his website.

“Carry On” – The Mountains & The Trees

Swing by iTunes for more TM&TT here.

]]> http://slowcoustic.com/2011/06/18/saturday-grab-bag-with-frederick-squire-the-bravest-ghost-and-the-mountains-the-trees/feed/ 4 http://slowcoustic.com/2011/05/21/slowcoustic-weekend-recommendations-theodore-willy-vlautin-kill-county-will-johnson/ http://slowcoustic.com/2011/05/21/slowcoustic-weekend-recommendations-theodore-willy-vlautin-kill-county-will-johnson/#comments Sat, 21 May 2011 15:30:40 +0000 slowcoustic http://slowcoustic.com/?p=6032

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

Today gets a great track I listened to a few months back and never got around to posting on it.  Sooo much music I guess.  Not really an excuse, I know – especially for a great track like this one.

Daniel Huscroft is a Canadian singer songwriter that is a little hard to classify into a specific genre – I want to say folkish, indie singer songwriter-ish, or along those lines.  Listen to the song below and you will understand where I am coming from.  Clearly a powerful vocalist and I think the polish on the great HD video my belie any gruff exterior he might show.  I am sure that was the point of the video having Huscroft in the middle of classical musicians with strategic blur and the like – nice little video for the song I think.

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GONE by Daniel Huscroft
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“Gone” is from his 2010 album “Here Is Just For Now” and you can find it on iTunes here or CD Baby here.  Lots of strings, acoustic guitar and strong vocals – what’s wrong with that for a Friday?  Nothing, now go into your weekend as this week is….gone.  [weak, I know]

Find out more on Daniel Huscroft on his new Facebook page or even his MySpace page.

~Smansmith