i can't believe it, it's always like this

The first time I heard Bombay Bicycle Club's track "Always Like This" I fell in love. I haven't been this excited for a CD just from one track in a very long. Their upcoming album, entitled I Had The Blues But I Shook Them Loose, looks like it's coming out July 6th in the UK. Look out for these guys, they really make some great music. There is something about Jack Steadman's voice that I absolutely love. NME Magazine named them "...the hottest band to come from North London for quite some time." Really looking forward to this album.

Always Like This - Bombay Bicy...

is love an accident?

So I'm listening to my new Paste Magazine Digital download and came across Jeremy Messersmith's track "Miracles," and am hooked. After doing a little research, looks like Jeremy is a singer-songwriter hailing from Minnesota. His latest album entitled, The Silver City, has gotten great reviews, and even some comparisons to Sufjan Stevens. NPR had their own write-up on Jeremy, and had some great things to say:

Throughout The Silver City, Messersmith borrows heavily but lovingly from some of his favorite artists. There's the twinkling harmonies of Brian Wilson and The Beatles, and the gentle touch of Elliott Smith. Some of the chord progressions are reminiscent of Aimee Mann's work. But Messersmith adds his own colorful touches, including the electro-pop and vintage drum loops on "Miracles" and "Virginia," as well as the wistful country swing of "Breaking Down."

I said I didn't want to move, I just wanted to survive

just discovered a lovely little track by Robert Francis called Little Girl. After rummaging through the internet, turns out he's a pretty popular guy. Hailing from California, Robert is a singer-songwriter with a little bit of country, and a gorgeous voice to boot. His newest album, One By One, which is on Aeronaut Records, has gotten some pretty great reviews.

One reviewer said: "An incredibly gifted musician, who counts the drums, banjo, bass, piano, mandolin and guitar all as weapons of choice, he focuses more on traversing the minutiae of day-to-day life than on trying to change the world. Heartbreak finds its way into the bulk of the songs, but it's never precious to the point of nausea, which can't be said for most artists his age. As first efforts go, there's not much more you can ask for. Keep an eye on this kid."


Will do, sir.

Little Girl - Robert Francis

Mama Don't Come - Robert Franc...

revolving and spinning in space

just came across this excellent track by High Places. I haven't been able to find their album, or much about them yet....but I'm digging what I hear so far. I love me some electronica these days. Pitchfork gave their self-titled album 8/10.

One of many boy/girl indie electro duos formed in 2006, Rob Barber and Mary Pearson of Brooklyn's High Places approach recording with creative abandon, experimenting with offbeat production techniques like random microphone positioning, pitch shifting, delays, and saturated blankets of reverb to create danceable layers of sound.

we are always running for the thrill of it

Empire Of The Sun - Walking On A Dream -

How can I explain
Talking to myself
Will I see again

We are always running for the thrill of it thrill of it
Always pushing up the hill searching for the thrill of it
On and on and on we are calling out and out again
Never looking down I’m just in awe of what’s in front of me

Is it real now
When two people become one
I can feel it
When two people become one

Thought I’d never see
The love you found in me
Now it’s changing all the time
Living in a rhythm where the minutes working overtime

Catch me I’m falling down
Catch me I’m falling down

Don’t stop just keep going on
I’m your shoulder lean upon
So come on deliver from inside
All we got is tonight that is right till first light

the lights here are softer than you'd think

you leaned in, you said,
"Make music with the chatter in here,
And whisper all the notes in my ears."

Better late than never, right? I'd have to say yes about Blind Pilot. While their album was released in August, I'm just taking a listen now. This folk duo from Portland put out a beautiful album entitled 3 Rounds and A Sound. While fairly simplistic, it just works. Kind of reminds me of Neutral Milk Hotel, a little. Either way, it's simply lovely. 'Oviedo' had me addicted from the first listen.


Oviedo

sort of like a dream, isn't it? no, better.

So as I've been reading a plethora of lists for favorite albums/songs of the year, I came across Air France multiple times. I now see what I was missing. After listening to their song "Collapsing At Your Doorstep," it is clear what the hype was about. The single is a beautiful journey and locked me in from the start. It's a perfect Sunday night tune.

Collapsing At Your Doorstep

it's coming now

listen. and enjoy.

lonely no more

One of my absolute favorites, Magnet, has just released his 3rd album entitled The Simple Life in Norway this week! The man behind Magnet is Even Johansen, an amazing and humble musician. His previous 2 CDs have been constant rotation since I discovered him back in 2004. Even's gorgeous and soft voice combined with a little rock and some electronic beats make fantastic and catchy melodies. While I enjoyed his previous 2 albums a little better, I'm always going to love everything Magnet puts out, he's a favorite forever.

Tracks from The Simple Life:

The Gospel Song

You Got Me

love don't cry, I'll never lie

Lisa Hannigan is best know for playing with the amazing Damien Rice, but I was lucky enough to stumble upon a beautiful video of her performing 4 solo songs, and wow...how I love this woman. She has one of the most gorgeous voices out there today. She makes it look so simple too....lucky girl. Someone was nice enough to capture the songs into mp3s, so you here you are...drool away.

Courting Blues

Splishy Splashy

Teeth

Blurry

what the fuck was I thinking?

My fellow music lover Meaghan introduced me to the adorable Jenny Owens Youngs this evening and I'm ever so thankful she did! Jenny is a young singer/songwriter from New Jersey who apparently will be taking up residency at the Paradise Lounge in Boston in Feb. Her album Batten the Hatches is going to be re-released this year. Can't wait to hear more from this talented musician.

fuck was i

without a shadow of a doubt

If you haven't heard any of Beth Orton's music, you really need to get on it. Everything she has put out I have enjoyed a great deal, but her 2006 release Comfort of Strangers is her absolute best release to date. This CD is full of Beth's incredibly beautiful voice and gorgeous melodies. There isn't a track on it that I don't love. This puppy is defintely making a spot on my Top Ten CDs of 2006. (Which I keep talking about and haven't exactly had time to work on just yet, sadly).

There are so many great artists over the last few years to come out with some new modernized folk, and Beth is one who has joined the ranks. This CD is fantastic.


This album could be seen as a fresh start for Beth Orton, and she makes the most of it: As artlessly lovely as a spring day, this is some of her simplest work, and simply some of her best, too.

Conceived

Worms

Comfort of Strangers

Safe In Your Arms

love ain't fair

I just got on my hands on the Gotye CD and while I haven't even given it a listen all the way through, I'm already loving it. It really isn't like many other CDs I have heard this year. He has a beautiful voice along with some fun electronic, eclectic beats. Heart's A Mess is a truly amazing song. Just give it a listen, you won't be sorry.

Pick apart
The pieces of your heart
And let me peer inside
Let me in
Where only your thoughts have been
Let me occupy your mind
As you do mine


Heart's A Mess

the swell season

Glen Hansard is the lead singer for the Irish band, The Frames (who I will post about very soon since their new CD is fantastic).

Glen decided to team up with Marketa Irglova and together they created the amazingly beautiful "The Swell Season." At first listen, this CD reminded me a lot of Damien Rice's "O", but while they are similar, The Swell Season is a unique and an incredible work of music.

This CD is extremely delicate and acoustic and probably a great one to fall asleep too. While fairly sad and mellow in its nature, you can't ignore how absolutely gorgeous it is. Glen's voice mixed with soft pianos, Marketa's cello playing, and haunting melody's make for a near perfect album.

An absolute must have for fan's of Damien Rice and Nick Drake. Simply superb.

Tracks from The Swell Season:

Drown Out

Sleeping

When Your Mind's Made Up

it's over

Even since the lovely Tia introduced me to Magnet (who will get his own entry very soon, because he is the best) I have found a few more electronic-type artists I enjoy. One of which is Milosh. He currently has one of the Top 10 Electronic CD's on Itunes, and has opened for Imogen Heap.

While his music is mostly categorized under the Electronic genre, it has much more than that. He has this soft beautiful voice that's perfectly placed within the music. Definitely a relaxing album, it's great music for a chill night at home.

Sensual, dreamlike, jazz-inflected and ever so slightly unreachable, this second album from Toronto-based lap-topper Milosh charts the aftermath of a romantic break-up in gorgeously soft-focus style.

This album takes on the sadder side of relationships: the endings. But also shows how we all eventually move on.

Cheers Milosh.

Milosh - It's Over

Milosh - Couldn't Sleep

because maybe

I'm sure you remember Oasis' big hit Wonderwall, but have you heard the wonderful Ryan Adams do it?

Now you can't say you haven't. I have to say, while I love Oasis' version, Adams cover is beautiful.

cause maybe, you're gonna be the one that saves me.

Ryan Adams - Wonderwall

oh, you're too young

Let's funk it up a bit, shall we? The Junior Boys are an electronic-pop duo from Canada. A little bit of synth-pop, a dash of techno, and maybe even some 80's remnants. I heard the song "In The Morning" on KEXP's song of the day Podcast and found myself doing a little dance in my chair. Ok, maybe not, but it makes for a good story, right? (or a scary one).

A few fellow music whores have deemed The Junior Boys newest release "So This is Goodbye" the album of the year but while it's a fun one....don't know if I can make that claim. Either way, it's different and exciting, and while it's not for everyone....I think most people would enjoy "In The Morning."

You may even do a little dance too, who knows.

The Junior Boys - In The Morning

O to 9

Damien fucking Rice.

Words cannot explain how much I love this man's music. It's been over 3 years since he put out the incredible "O" (Honestly, if you haven't heard this CD yet, run to the store right now and get it, it's beautiful and one of my favorite records in the last 5 years, easily.)

So Eskimo Friends announced a few weeks ago that Mr . Rice will have a new CD coming out November 6th overseas, and November 14th in the US entitled "9" (I guess he likes the simple album titles, huh?)

Full track listing:

1. 9 Crimes
2. The Animals Were Gone
3. Elephant
4. Rootless Tree
5. Dogs
6. Coconut Skins
7. Me, My Yoke And I
8. Grey Room
9. Accidental Babies
10. Sleep Don't Weep

On working on "9":

“In writing songs you're expressing your emotions, but very often they're immature emotions although you may write them in a very eloquent way. I think somebody who is very balanced and is sorted out in life don't see any issues with the rest of the world. Whereas when you don't have yourself sorted out, and when you've got issues and you're turbulent inside and struggling to find a balance, then you see all those 'issues' on the outside and they bug you. You write about them because they're frustrating you, and it pours out. But in a sense I feel that although it may be a beautiful means of expression, writing songs is, innately I think, immature. But it’s exciting, so fuck it. Who says that being mature and wise is perfect anyway?”

Gotta love Damien. This is absolutely one of my most anticipated albums of 2006 and I'm hoping it leaks soon (!!).

The single out right now is "9 Crimes" and it's absolutely brilliant. Damien + Lisa Hannigan + piano...I mean, really, does it get anymore gorgeous? No. But, I'll let you decide for yourself.

I also stumbled upon a B-side of the album entitled "The Art Within The Grain"....another goodie from Damien. This man is the best.

"I only wanted to be wonderful
And wonderful is true
In truth I only really wanted
To be wanted by you"


Damien Rice - 9 Crimes (off of upcoming "9", out Nov 14th)


Damien Rice - The Rat Within The Grain ("9" B-side)