So I have been playing around with the idea of having a “Slowcoustic Essentials” for a while now. Why? Well, since “Slowcoustic” isn’t a real word, it is just something I have been using for the past few years to describe the music I like. Basically, there is no real true definition other than it is music that tends to be a bit more down-tempo and can usually be created/re-created with just a vocalist and a guitar (but not exclusively).
What better way to start to turn you all into believers of the word Slowcoustic, then to provide my examples of what I consider it to be. I just happened to actually start to do it today and will continue on in the many upcoming months with more examples of this incredible genre of music.
First installment – Chris Bathgate. While he may not be my immediate “go to” musician for my made up genre, he is an phenomenal artist that I consider one of my all time favourites. From what I know of Bathgate, he is a native of Illinois, but really considers Michigan his home base. His discography contains a new release each year for the previous few years and all are worthy of purchase in physical media (the true test these days if you appreciate an artist, imho). From his Wiki page, there is only one album I am not truly familiar with and it is his first and prior to me ever hearing him, it is something I am hunting down.
I do believe his sound is progressing, but it doesn’t need to go too far as his sound is rich, encompassing and something I always gravitate to. Whether it is “The 44’s” from “Silence is for Suckers” or “Buffalo Girl” from “Throatsleep” or from his newest EP “Wait, Skeleton” and the track “Yes, I’m Cold”. He brings songs with acoustic beauty, often with a banjo (my favourite) and each song is one you find yourself wanting to join in with the band and sing along to. While he has been a regular around the Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti area for a while, he has moved to touring nationally in the last few years and I believe is someone everyone will be hearing a lot more of (no pun intended).
Enjoy some great label approved tracks (found via the good folks at IODA again) and you need to listen, download and run off to pick up a copy of his discography;
- Create and Consume (2003) – post in the comments with info on this one!
- Silence Is For Suckers (2005)
- The Single Road I Longed For (2006)
- Throatsleep (2006)
- A Detailed Account of Three Dreams EP (2006)
- A Cork Tale Wake (2007)
- Auld Lang Syne (single) (2007)
- Wait, Skeleton EP (2008)
- The Ashville Squints (split with Hezekiah Jones) (2008)
Now try and tell me you don’t want to scour the internet for everything you can find! Enjoy the below, visit him on his Website, his MySpace and his Quite Scientific page.
There will be more Slowcoustic Essentials in the series soon, so keep an eye out!
~Smansmith
Chris Bathgate
“buffalo girl” (mp3)
from “throatsleep”
(Quite Scientific Records)
Chris Bathgate
“I know how you are going to die tonight.” (mp3)from “throatsleep”
(Quite Scientific Records)
Chris Bathgate
“little bird in coffin come” (mp3)
from “throatsleep”
(Quite Scientific Records)
Chris Bathgate
“Serpentine” (mp3)
from “a cork tale wake”
(Quite Scientific Records)
Chris Bathgate
“the last parade on Ann St.” (mp3)
from “a cork tale wake”
(Quite Scientific Records)
Chris Bathgate
“every wall you own” (mp3)
from “a cork tale wake”
(Quite Scientific Records)
Chris Bathgate
“Yes I’m Cold” (mp3)
from “Wait, Skeleton.”
(Quite Scientific Records)
Comments
12 responses to “Slowcoutic Essentials – Chris Bathgate”
Excellent. Since we seem to be on the same page musically… not sure if you know that he and Hezekiah are putting out a split 7″ together.
Yes the split is pretty good. I think that the Hezekiah Jones track might be stronger actually, but it is definitely a great couple of songs!
S.
A great first essential ! Any Live release last year ? Dealing with Hezekiah Jones and Chris Bathgate, find here a common interview collected by my good friend Ale for Ondarock !
http://www.ondarock.it/interviste/jonesbathgate2.htm
Who’s next ?
I think you’d also dig these other acts from the Michigan scene:
Matt Jones
http://www.myspace.com/mattspainting
Frontier Ruckus
http://www.myspace.com/frontierruckus
Ben and Bruno
http://www.myspace.com/benandbruno
Breathe Owl Breathe
http://www.myspace.com/breatheowlbreathe
Misty Lyn & the Big Beautiful
http://www.myspace.com/mistylynmusic
Drunken Barn Dance
http://www.myspace.com/drunkendance
Jim Roll
http://www.myspace.com/jimroll
Fred Thomas (now Brooklyn)
http://www.myspace.com/fredthomassongs
@ Brandon:
Yes I agree, Michigan is a hotbed for great “indie-folk”. Frontier Ruckus…who are these people?? HA, just kidding, they are awesome and you will find them on my top 10 list upcoming. B&B and BOB are also great. I will give the others a visit…I sense more posts on Slowcoustic…..
You can get Throatsleep in its physical form from foxonahill.com as well as Breathe Owl Breathe, and hopefully soon Matt Jones…
[…] I don’t really know anything about Michigan. I do know that they are surprisingly full of great indie talent and Fields of Industry are included among this […]
[…] or so ago. Led to him from suggestions from you. Yes, you the readers of this blog. I had a post on Chris Bathgate in which a comment was made by “Brandon” to check out some more of the great artists […]
I just found this guys through grooveshark and I absolutely love the last parade on Ann St. …keep putting up good stuff for me guys =]
If you’re still looking for the first cd It’s possible that i have it. I’m not sure cause i cant find any info on it, I don’t have any of the track names but there are 13 songs and i think i got it around 2003 or 04. I got it from an ex-girlfriend who used to be friends with him. There’s a song about Jim Henson if that helps identify it.
Just got Wait, Skeleton and think I might be in love.
been in love with guy for a while, great person to make an essentail. I haven’t been able to find any of his old stuff and I particularly want his Twilight Unlimited ep. If anyone knows where I can find them, let me know.