Posted on

Sparklehorse // Reissuing “It’s A Wonderful Life” // In Memorioum

Funny how life works. Yesterday, I was driving around running errands, and surprisingly I didn’t have my iPod with me. So I reached into the glove-box and pulled out a CD without writing to indicate what was on it. I popped it in. It turned out to be a playlist I compiled over two-year ago with songs from then newbies Bon Iver, The Drums, Local Natives, Freelance Whales etc. and a host of other bands from 2009-2010. Somewhere in the middle of recording the song “Little Girl” by Sparklehorse/David Lynch/Danger Mouse came on and it hit me like a ton of bricks. Mark Linkous left us March 10, 2010 for whatever reasons, and there remains a gaping hole in the world of Indie music. I will not mare his memory with morbid recriminations, what I will do is pay homage to his memory and legacy by posting the music he enjoyed making and sharing with others. So, from now until the anniversary of his passing, every other day or so I will include songs from his catalogue and/or artists and bands associated with him. Also, the scuttlebutt is there’s a re-issue of what is arguably Sparklehorse’s crowning achievement, the wonderful (understatement) album It’s A Wonderful Life. You can Pre-Order it via SoundStage Direct Peace. Continue reading “Sparklehorse // Reissuing “It’s A Wonderful Life” // In Memorioum”

Posted on

John Mayer // Shadow Days

It is good to see John Mayer back and making music. I don’t often review much mainstream music, but I make an exception here. Why Mr. Mayer? Well, beecause I like him. His music has always had a certain humility and earnestness to it that I’ve always cottoned to. Even when Mr. Mayer got lost along the way, I still played his music, especially songs like “Gravity” and “Something Missing” on the latter song, JM wrote one of the coolest lyrics ever:

“When autumn comes, it doesn’t ask.
It just walks in, where it left you last.
And you never know, when it starts
Until there’s fog inside the glass around your summer heart

How epically fucking poetic! Check out the fist single, “Shadow Play” from the forthcoming album Born And Raised, scheduled for a May 22nd release. Peace.

“Shadow Days”

Posted on

Teen Daze // Brooklyn Sunburn

starring out into the see // I sea complete // & all the possibilities I peruse// inspire dreams of conjure  // anon the sleeping of awakened muse  // propel senses to delicately wander  // & so i tread where the sounds teach me less  // these answers to life’s test  // this questioning ponders.

At times you just have to let the music take you wherever it chooses to lead. However, Vancouver’s Teen Daze inspires the opposite, in that the music goes out on a limb and let’s him take the reigns. Heady stuff for sure. But, when the music trusts you so implicitly the results are sublime. Check out the astral first release “Brooklyn Sunburn” from the forthcoming debut full length All Of Us, Together out May 22nd via Lefse Records. Peace. Continue reading “Teen Daze // Brooklyn Sunburn”

Posted on

the echo vamper // lover // goodbye blue skies

When I first listened to Echo Vamper I was immediately taken in by their raw, barely restrained musicality. And since my first encounter with the rock-heavy duo was also a visual one. Spent watching their frenetic “Lover” video, I was also taken in by the pizzazzy, almost burlesque theatrics of lead-vocalist Iza Mortag Freund, channeling distinctly the resurrected spirit of Ms. Janis Joplin. But as dizzying as the video is, the music most definitely isn’t. James Brook and his guitar crank out resounding Rock-a-billy punctuated by Doppler radar syncopation, interspersed with fuzzy synths and a brash brass-knuckled bass that grazes one’s earlobe like a rusty razor. It works. You can cop the bands debut EP,  It’s The Echo Vamper, on iTunes. Peace. Continue reading “the echo vamper // lover // goodbye blue skies”