Now, Mr. K has gone a done it again. With the his latest song Most Birthdays which plies the deepening waters of this so-called life. And although the waves seem to engulf his personal life Nathan remains resilient and beats back despair with gorgeous and powerful song. Look for a forthcoming album in 2014. Peace.

 
Most Birthdays Lyrics:
 
I saw a kid playing in the dirt
and I thought “hey kid, it only gets worse from here”
I watched as his mother cleaned his face and I thought that was nice
It feels like it was only yesterday that i was in that place

Magic shows don’t quite feel the same as they once did when I was just that age but I can sleep all the way through the night without waking up to hear my parents fight
and I’ll take that tonight

I drove past the house that I grew up in
And I’m not sure I’m glad I visited back here
It looked different than I’d remembered it
And it brought back way too many things that I’d prefer to forget

Most birthdays don’t quite feel the same as they once did when i lived at that place but I can sleep all the way through the night without waking up to hear my parents fight
and I’ll take that tonight

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It is nigh impossible not to fall for The Milk Carton Kids. In terms of harmony, delivery, and overall songcraft the Joey Ryan and Kenneth Pattengale duo are unsurpassed. I am inspired by artists who possess the ability to elevate a genre or in the case of TMCK, bust it to pieces. And although it is natural to try to place TMCK into a box and label it Folk, Bluegrass or Southern Rock Pop, etc. But The Milk Carton Kids won’t stay contained, not even close. Listen to their new track “Snake Eyes,” which premiered on Rolling Stone (1/08/13) and it is more than evident these guys far exceed the usefulness of their current band name. Or perhaps it is part of their wonderful duplicity, to put forth an almost juvenile designate, which at first glance conjures immaturity, but in the end offer listeners a thing wholly divergent reality. When you click play, what you get is a slow motion gut-check, a stave through your heart but without all the blood, yet still passion aplenty. These aren’t mere songs, they’re reservoirs of a revelatory depth of character, emotion and beauty. The track is taken from the band’s upcoming debut LP,  ‘The Ash and Clay’, and it also serves double-duty as the soundtrack to Gus Van Sant’s latest film, Promised Land. The Milk Carton Kids are a namesake defied kind of deal, and an admonishment to not judge a band by its Saturday morning kids show name. Peace. 

TRACK LIST:
 
Hope Of A Lifetime
Snake Eyes
Honey, Honey
Years Gone By
The Ash & Clay
Promised Land
The Jewel Of June
Whisper In Her Ear
On The Mend
Heaven
Hear Them Loud
Memphis
 

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if you’re not familiar with the homespun music of nathan k. (Nathan Klages) then it is about time you take a few minutes and sit back and absorb the work-a-day music of this incredible michigan-based singer/songwriter. nathan’s soulfully wholesome album ‘dishes’ came out this summer, from which the beautiful track, “ghost” is taken. after the jump check out the dit session #24 for the previous mentioned track. how mr. k captures so much raw emotional tumult is both heart wrenching and a total explosion of happy/sad tears all at the some time. for more, check out nathan k.’s bob seger video and shiver at it’s majesty and grace. it’s as if every time nathan picks up a guitar and sets his honest mouth and accompanies the mercurial michigan clime, the airwaves rattle with the bones of truth. peace.

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lansing, michigan-based band language unleashes a sound which comes pouring out of your speakers like a sunburst of post-punk euphoria. this is music glazed with a vibrancy combined with both ear-aching post-punk pop but tempered by a gritty passion and an unstoppable need to get it out of their collective systems. lead-vocalist christopher minarik channels a hybrid blend of ian curtis (joy division) and peter murphy (bauhaus) with sonic fragments of the pixies thrown in for good measure. and even though the band has its influences it still portrays a visage which is clearly and unequivocally their own. my favorite track is the ep opener, “sault marie,” how it unfurls with a frenetic maelstrom of drums and quicksilver guitar work before chris’s vocals festoon the song with his husky diamond in the rough crooning. great music from a band i will definitely be following. peace.

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I got the wonderful All The Pretty People EP in my e-mail inbox several days ago and I’ve been (hoarding) listening to it ever since; while running random and mundane errands aplenty. Christopher Norman & The Reverb Junkie (aka  Michelle Chamuel) are a match made in music heaven, and this EP is a living and breathing testament to how seamlessly their respective styles coalesce into a gratifying and wonderful sound. Although the EP contains only three songs and a couple of remixes a listener can easily envision something bigger and broader in the works from this talented twosome.

The opening track, “You Don’t Know” features the fantastically seductive vocals of The Reverb Junkie, it settles somewhere near your endorphin center and pretty much stays there. The following song “Keep Pace” finds Christopher Norman‘s voice matched perfectly alongside each note, with The Reverb Junkie offering glints and shiny facets along the way. But, when Christopher sings, “I was never good at staying put…” you get the feeling he isn’t speaking of geography. It is more than evident this artist is evolving, and continues to push into uncharted territory. The maturity is evident as both of these artists showcase their individual strengths as producers and songwriters.  On track number three we’re treated to more of what works well here, the beyond excellent singing of Michelle Chamuel swimming amongst the white-water electronic orchestration of Mr. Norman.

This in more than a debut release, it is a solid statement by the duo. It is the charming and beatific voices of Christopher and Michelle commingling and complimenting each other, but it is also a combination of slow-motion-dream and the frenetic-electronic-cloud rain dripping musically all over the place. It it both bright and clever. But this isn’t the stuff of trite and mercurial hipness, it is something more enduring. This collaboration is stalwart and self-assured, very easy to listen and dance to. I think this is the beginning of a wonderful musical relationship between Christopher Norman and The Reverb Junkie. Now, I’m just hoping they’re planning a full length LP in the near and dear future. Peace.

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It is some kind of wonderful when dj/producers like Poolside remix legendary dj/producer/ extraordinaire Matthew Dear. In this case listen to the track,
“Her Fantasy” and experience how good paying homage to a such a pivotal entity as Matthew Dear sounds. Her Fantasy is the first single from Matthew Dear’s forthcoming album Beams, look for it August 24th via Ghostly International. For more please check out and download the track In The Middle I Met You There. Peace.

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Joey Ryan and Kenneth Pattenngale are the one-two-punch known as The Milk Cartoon Kids. When listening to their brand of folk-pop you’ll notice a certain delicacy and attention to detail mostly reserved for lace makers. These guys are in the vein of say Simon and Garfunkel or the Jayhawks, both tough acts to follow. But make no mistake TMCK don’t do mimicry, instead they pay homage to a strong song tradition with ample acumen, grace and a whole heap of talent. Treat yourself to their Tiny Desk Concert today on NPR and get their albums Prologue and Retrospect as free downloads. Peace.

 
The Milk Carton Kids – Fall 2012 Headline Tour
 
8/30 – Denver, CO – Swallow Hill
8/31 – Pagosa Springs, CO – Four Corners Folk Fest

9/12 – Charlottesville, VA – The Southern
9/13 – Durham, NC – Casbah
9/15 – Bristol, VA – Rhythm & Roots Fest
9/16 – Asheville, NC – The Altamont

9/18 – Cleveland, OH – Beachland Ballroom
9/19 – Rochester, NY – Bug Jar

9/20 – Toronto, ON – The Drake
9/22 – Northampton, MA – Iron Horse Music Hall

9/23 – Burlington, VT – Higher Ground
9/24 – Boston, MA – Club Passim
9/25 – Portland, ME – Empire Dine And Dance
9/27 – New York, NY – 92Y Tribeca

10/2 – Phoenix, AZ – Rhythm Room
10/4 – Los Angeles, CA – Largo
10/5 -San Diego, CA – Anthology
10/9 – Seattle, WA – The Tractor Tavern
10/10 – Portland, OR – Mississippi Studios

10/11 – Vancouver, B.C. – Media Club
10/12 – Victoria, BC – Venue TBA

10/23 – Atlanta, GA – Eddie’s Attic
10/25 – Birmingham, AL – Moonlight On The Mountain
10/26 – Nashville, TN – Venue TBA
10/27 – Louisville, KY – Uncle Slaton’s
10/28 – St. Louis, MO – Off Broadway

10/30 – Chicago, IL – Space
11/1 – Ann Arbor, MI – The Ark
11/2 – Columbus, OH – Rumba Café
11/3 – Pittsburgh, PA – Club Café
11/4 – Philadelphia, PA – Tin Angel
11/5 – Vienna, VA – Jammin’ Java

On Tour With Old Crow Medicine Show & The Lumineers

8/01 – Richmond, VA – Maymont Park **
8/02 – Washington DC, 9:30 Club **
8/03 – Washington DC, 9:30 Club **
8/04 – Philadelphia, PA – The Electric Factory **

8/06 – New York, NY – Central Park Summerstage**
8/08 – Portland, ME – The State Theater **
8/09 – Boston, MA – House of Blues **
8/10 – Burlington, VT – Lake Champlain Maritime Music Festival **

8/23 – Birmingham, AL – Alabama Theatre
8/24 – Knoxville, TN – The Tennessee Theatre
8/25 – Atlanta, GA – The Fox Theater

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Fellow Michigander Nathan K. recently dropped his spectacular Dishes LP and if you haven’t treated yourself to a listen then you’re missing out. I had the pleasure, and honor, of reviewing the full album before its official release. This album is well stocked with tender, yet dazzling songwriting.

This is an album that happens when someone loses an important link in their life. Nathans grandfather passed recently, and it is easy to imagine how many of these songs are the result his loss. So, on its face this is a collection of songs about heartache, but it also about taking that heartache and turning it into songs of reflection.  In the end it is also ultimately about refection, and finding one’s resolve to, if not rise above it, then to cope as best you can. In the end these are songs paying homage and honoring those who leave us while we still envision having them in our lives.Yes, we carry on without their physical presence. We go about the daily rigors of life with a loved one’s remembrance stitched permanently in our hearts. The album opens with the tranquil, “For Your Own Good” and the songs speak of frustration, youthful angst, well-intentioned advice, and perhaps a need to accept one’s doubtful compulsion towards personal destiny.

For Your Own Good lyrics

I was stopped on the side of the highway. I was stopped on the side of the road. I guess I was going too fast. I guess I was going too fast for my own good. He let me go with only a warning. He let me go with only these words. (He said) Son you should try to relax. Son you should try to relax for your own good. I spent the whole day just sitting in silence. I spent the whole day with the radio off. I couldn’t think of a good song to sing. I couldn’t think of a single good thing to save my life. It’s been so long since I stared at a sunset. I was a kid last time I really felt that, the world is a beautiful place. And I guess it’s a beautiful place but it’s hard to tell. And I get so tired of hearing my own voice. But I can’t never seem to want to seem to shut my mouth for shit. It makes me sick. I can’t stop thinking about what that cop said. I can’t stop thinking about what he told me. Said, “son you should try to relax”. And I really should try to relax for my own good.

It is songs like this which comprise a seemingly journal full of personal songs that flesh out the life stories and discoveries on full display within the Dishes album. There has been much written about this release, and with this writing I’ll further the accolades, simply because they are fully deserved. Nathan K. is singer/songwriter from Ypsilanti, Michigan, and he crafts songs that not only reflect the geographic and social landscape around him, but also how the aforementioned geographic and social landscape shapes his perception. The temperatures of his heart reflect the mercurial aspects of the seasons here, and his voice is a worthy conduit coloring our souls just as bright and dour as we are.  Peace.

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