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Brown Bird – Salt For Salt

How do you get inside of shadow and smothered facets of dim light. Further, how does one extrude those elusive analogies into potent song? It’s hard work for sure. Unless of course you’re the skillful sons of a gun going by Brown Bird. The songs on Salt For Salt cut you down like a fifth or two of Jameson, minus the shot glass and ice of course. Take these songs straight up without a chaser, and suffer through them to get to the warm glow of temporary peace at the bottom of the metaphorical glass.  David Lamb and MorganEve Swain are taking their demons by the horns and creating a wondrous sound worth hearing. Listen below. Two of my favorites are “Bilgewater” and “End of Days” and of course the anchor weight of “Thunder and Lightning”. These songs, they’ll poke you right in the chest and get your attention like a shotgun brandished in the dead on night. Peace.

 

Watch a live session of “Thunder and Lightning” below.

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First Aid Kit – The Lion’s Roar


I first wrote about this Swedish sister act a few months ago. I am still impressed. Actually I’m smitten. I am all the things a person can be when they are witnessing the coming of musical angels. Angels with burnished voices, voices singing the stuff of howling coyotes and liquor-sad laments. The sisters Johanna and Klara Söderberg released their debut LP The Big Black and The Blue in 2010. Now, the duo is gearing up for a late January 24th release of their sophomore offering The Lion’s Roar. Below, you can listen to the title track (and a few other older songs) from the upcoming album just to whet your appetite for what the new year will ring in. Peace.


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Bon Iver – Beth/Rest Solo Piano Version

Bon Iver - Beth/Rest (Solo Piano Version)

Under normal circumstances I’m not one for surprises. However, like with most things in life there are those rare exceptions. Justin Vernor of Bon Iver is without a doubt an incredibly talented craftsman. What he does with chords and lyrics is nothing less than stellar. So, can his song craft get any better? Apparently so. Just when I thought he couldn’t take it to another level Mr. Vernon pulls a rabbit out of his hat. On his latest album Bon Iver, Bon Iver  the album closes with the song “Beth/Rest”. Now, even if you think the song is a bit grandiose it’s still a great song. Now, the surprise. Justin Vernon has taken this song and stripped it down to its bare bones, and what is left is pretty damn good, and that’s an understatement. Some people categorize Beth/Rest as a love song. Yes, it is a love song albeit a broken or a strained love song, and something wholly different too. It is almost a gospel musing with its naked spirituality, replete with declarations of something akin to a soulful throwing down of the gauntlet and taking a stance and confronting a thing head-on.

When Justin sings:

all the news at the door
such a revelry
well, it’s hocked inside
of everything you said to me

it was found what we orphaned
didn’t mention it would serve us picked
well your love is known
I’m standing up on it

aren’t we married?!
I ain’t living in the dark no more
it’s not a promise,
I’m just gonna call it…

This is the punch in the gut, it is a wake-up call. Whatever happened has come to the light of day. They either suffer and wrestle through it, or call it quits.

The song is now raw and intense and I can’t stop listening to it. Peace.


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Joe Pug – Live Sessions

I may be new to the whole music blog thing, but that doesn’t mean I can’t recognize amazing music when I hear it. The main reason I do this is to share music that makes me happy. Joe Pug is an artist that makes me smile every time I listen to him. His music is Folk music at its absolute finest. It is stripped down and wholly authentic and without pretension. But no matter how poetic I attempt to sound in regards to describing his music, it will not come close to the beauty on full display when you hear for yourself his musically magic.

Joe Pug – How Good You Are from HearYa.com on Vimeo.

Joe Pug – Call It What You Will from HearYa.com on Vimeo.