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iamamiwhoami // sever // drops // Video

When watching or listening to the audio/visual projects of iamamiwhoami right away you know you’ve stumbled off the beaten path, and so far it’s a good thing. Here, in the artsy landscape of iamamiwhoami you’re constantly discovering something, if not special, then at a bare minimum interesting. Swedish singer/songwriter, and dare I say performance artist, Jonna Lee appears to have tapped into a fantastical world where reality is highly stylized and emotionally revelatory. It isn’t a hard guess to determine that many how the works are concerned about facing one’s fears and being vulnerable. And in this latest round of songs/videos we are treated to a barely clad (vulnerable)  JL and she’s bringing an entire arsenal of emotion to bare. Immediately you get a sense of barely restrained trepidation, and that better days are long past and longed for. Then there is the matter of the hairy beast man thingy and it’s right out of a Jeff Soto painting. What does its presence represent? Fear? Undefined desires? Indecisiveness? I suppose the proper artsy response would be to interpret, or intuit it in whatever way you want to. And so we’ll leave it right there. Enjoy this duo of videos, and come back and visit again for the next installment of corresponding acts, the songs/videos “good worker” and “play” will be out soon. And, you we can anticipate the album Kin, which is scheduled for a June 11th release. Peace.  Continue reading “iamamiwhoami // sever // drops // Video”

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lambchop | gone tomorrow


 
I cannot think of another singer/songwriter/guitarist with a more tranquil voice as that belonging to Kurt Wagner of Nashville’s perennial country band Lambchop. His vocals are at once old-timey speakeasy and by turns possess a mellow dangerous magic. On the bands 11th release Mr. M you get treated to more of what you expect from this subtle powerhouse of strings and twang. And with beautiful songs like, “If Not I’ll Just Die” and “Gone Tomorrow,” I think it’ll be hard not to want this for yourself. Also, you can stream the Mr. M album release for a limited time at Merge Records. Enjoy. Peace. Continue reading “lambchop | gone tomorrow”

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nina kraviz // ghetto kraviz

Even if Muscovite Nina Kraviz wasn’t scintillately hot would I still gravitate towards her music? Hell YES! Although she is quite the eye-candy, it her skills as a DJ/Producer/Vocalist that’ll keep you drooling on dance floors or in the comfy confines of your very own chill pad (hopefully not alone). Ms. Kraviz’s sound is a pleasant mix of bare-bones house, the old school Detroit house variety. Throw in a smidgin of R&B, add Nina’s adroit and honey dripping vocals and you got an album to be reckoned with. I know you’re feeling this, so cop it at iTunes. Peace. Continue reading “nina kraviz // ghetto kraviz”

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bon iver // towers (official video)

It’s not that Justin Vernon of Bon Iver is feeling himself after his 54th Grammy Awards nomination and subsequent wins for Best Alternative Music Album and Best New Artist respectively, anything but. He still remains humble and true to his craft, and in some respects maintains, no elevates his integrity for not bowing to the pressure of the machine by not performing. His reason for shunning the stage and thus losing an opportunity to be seen by some 39.3 million viewers (Nielsen Co.)? Well, it’s simple. Justin Vernon is his own man. It is apparent Justin Vernon loves the music he creates. But it goes beyond that, he respects and cares deeply for his bandmates too. And lastly, he respects his chosen craft and his fans. Don’t me wrong, performing on a Grammy stage is not necessarily a bad thing, it’s not. But Justin Vernon didn’t want to have to jump through hoops to do it. Why go through the staid motions of a heartless collaboration not of his own choosing? And so he demurred. What Bon Iver did is laudable to say the least. And yes, there are more important things in this world than award shows, but what Mr. Vernon represented, was that you can be present at an award, and even graciously accept an award, but you don’t have to be the award show. And he didn’t. Mr. Vernon knows in his heart that the music is infinitely more important than a Grammy award. What a class act.

Now, I almost forgot I was writing about Bon Iver’s new NABIL directed video for “Towers” and it is beautifully shot and choke full with visual metaphor aplenty. And yes, it many even be channeling Ernest Hemingway’s The Old Man And The Sea, but that’s a way cool thing too. Peace. Continue reading “bon iver // towers (official video)”

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Dirty Ghosts // Shout It In

Allyson Baker has been on a musical journey, and it has led her from the northern environs of Canada to San Francisco, CA. Along the way her sound has morphed not a few times. Now, gone is most of her early punk influences, at least sonically speaking (Ms. Baker’s look is still unabashedly punk-rocker girl, albeit a kinder and gentler version). These days Dirty Ghosts finds a home somewhere in-between a R&B vibe and stealthy Funk-Pop machinations. Doesn’t matter what you call it really, because Dirty Ghosts works. Turn it on and you’ll witness how this track enlivens any space it is set free to roam. The song, “Shout It In” is laden with swag galore. And although this song my not be consciously trying to get into your pants, it will. Coupled with a blatantly nasty groove as a wing-man they’ll get your ass moving in no time. Dirty Ghosts latest LP Metal Moon is available now, and if you skedaddle over to the bands Facebook you’ll get a Free Download for “Shout It In”.  I got mine (and I’m not sharing), now you get yours. Peace. Continue reading “Dirty Ghosts // Shout It In”

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robin pecknold // ollivia, in a separate bed (demo)


 
When Robin Pecknold grabs his guitar, more than likely good and beautiful things are going to manifest themselves into reality. This man, who is the voice, and veritable life-force behind the incredible Folk-Rock band Fleet Foxes, can take ordinary human feelings and gain access to a place both raw and vulnerable. And he does it with a deftness and acuity that is comforting, unsettling and gorgeous beyond measure, and I love it. I admire how this man punches holes in the air of heartbreak just to breathe. And in doing so, he shows us how to breathe too. Through listening we gain the ability to resuscitate our own singular selves as well. The song, “Olivia, In A Separate Bed” is of course something personal, and I’m sure it’s stocked to the hilt with secret message enough to keep a cryptologist occupied for a lifetime. But to the ardent listener its tone and timbre are irresponsibly fragile, and we brush up against the blood bruises of sadness loud and feel them loud and clear. In the end, we know there is a path out of heartache, and there too is strength to be gained from experiencing much pain. Peace. Continue reading “robin pecknold // ollivia, in a separate bed (demo)”

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Soko // First Love Never Die

Yep, it’s official my ears are in a love/lust mode for the Los Angeles artiste Soko (Stéphanie Sokolinski) and her heart in a blender song “First Love Never Die” and if you don’t feel like taking this song to bed then you’re an eunuch or something equally androgynous or sexually inert. I’ll get my head out of the gutter as soon as you stop trying to steal my song. Yes, it’s one of those days. And if you long to have this one all to your self cop it on iTunes. Peace. Continue reading “Soko // First Love Never Die”

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Married To The Sea // Mutiny

You know you got a good bunch of friends when they’re suggesting such good music as that put out by Married To The Sea and their latest Pack Xerxes EP. Now I’m not sure if the album title is a reference to the Persian ruler of long ago (See the movie 300). But I do know this, I like the two tracks I’ve heard thus far, “Mutiny” and “Crash Hams,” and yes they resonate at very pleasurable wavelengths (“Crash Hams”). For more of this excellent band check out their SoundCloud. Peace. Continue reading “Married To The Sea // Mutiny”