The "I'm Feeling Autumnal" Folk Mini-Mixtape

So I know I said I was gonna post about the new Talib Kweli stuff, but its cloudy outside and I'm feeling rather autumnal, so I thought I would share some of my favorite folk tracks of the moment.

Update: After several listens, I've decided that this is my ultimate peace of mind mix as well. So kick back, hit play, and relax. Also, here is a zip file of all the songs if you're into that sort of thing:

"I'm Feeling Autumnal" Folk Mini-Mixtape (.zip file)

My Own Sinking Ship - Good Old War: These guys are masters of upbeat melancholy. There music tells you that maybe things aren't going so well, but hey, thats the way it is, keep your head up. They also know how to kill with the vocal harmonies.

The Dreamer - The Tallest Man On Earth: The line "sometimes the blues is just a passing bird/why can't that always be" sticks out in my head as one of the most poignant and poetic that I've heard in quite a while, and that stripped down guitar tone makes me feel like I'm sitting in someones living room with Kristian Matsson only 5 feet away. It's so earthy and exposed, you can't help but connect with the emotions he's singing about.

Unknown Legend - Ox: I love me some desert folk (a la Calexico), and Ox really knows how to do it. Many folk songs convey a sense of very insular loneliness, a feeling of being stuck in a small space, bundled up against the cold both in body and mind. This song instead channels the bittersweet loneliness of wide open spaces, of being the only person for miles and miles and miles.

The Jump Start - Nat Lefkoff: I've said it before and I'll say it again, Nat is one of the best singer-songwriters around today, and he's only 16. He has that rare ability to write songs that really makes you feel, not to mention the guitar chops and outstanding voice needed to really get the most out of those songs. It's hard to listen to this song and think that he has anything other than a very bright musical career ahead.

November Blue - Scott Avett: I don't know if any song has ever captured the essence of fall like this one does. Everything about this song tells you that summer is over, the trees are shedding their leaves, and the snow is soon to arrive.

In the Summertime (Live Backstage) - The Rural Alberta Advantage: This is one of the most amazingly heartbreaking songs I've ever heard, gets me every time. I can just imagine the singer staring out his window over a cold, snowy expanse and fondly remembering the warm summer months passed.


Thanks to I Am Fuel, You Are Friends for the inspiration and two of the tracks.


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Matthew and the Atlas

From the same London scene as Mumford & Sons, Matthew and the Atlas have a much more organic sound than their more well known brethren. Good full instrumentation and a couple of gorgeous voices. Definitely worth your listen.
I Will Remain - Matthew and the Atlas

Buy both their EPs on Amazon MP3 or iTunes, or stream both of them on their Myspace.

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Concert Saturday! Nat is Playing!

If you're in the Davis area, and you're in the mood for some fine folk music, make your way down to the Shack (213 C St.), on Saturday night at 7pm. Technically, the headliner is Aaron Godwater, but we all know that the star of the show is going to be this blog's favorite singer-songwriter, Nat Lefkoff. Just in case you've somehow managed to miss my previous rants about him, Nat is a high school sophomore, and one of the most talented folk singer-songwriters I've had the pleasure of hearing. Check the link above (click his name), for more info about him and some mp3s, but if you can, come see him live, he's awesome.

Other acts include:

Aaron Godwater. He's got a bit of a Kermit the Frog thing going with his voice, but he uses it well, and he's got real solid songs, so he should be very enjoyable.

Tambourine Shoes. Tambourine Shoes is Marissa Moriel, another Davis native. Sadly, the Myspace page has no songs, so I can't really comment on the quality of the music. However, her page lists her as "Folk Rock/Experimental/Indie", so her sound should be fairly in keeping with the rest of the show.

John Fern. He is from Chico, and has a somewhat similar sound to Nat, but almost kinda show-tuney (and not as awesome). Overall pleasant; good voice, decent songs. Should be good to watch.

Here is the Facebook Event page for those of you who would like to see that. Nat is always amazing live, and Aaron Godwater seems pretty cool too, so if you're in town or nearby, get down to The Shack!

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New Album News: Tunng

In my head, I tend to lump Tunng together with Freelance Whales, and while they're hardly identical, it seems to me like a fair comparison. Both of them focus on a folk sound, but with heavy use of synthesizers, as well as almost chorus like vocals. At any rate, they're awesome, so it's exciting to hear that they've got a new album coming out. It's called ...And Then We Saw Land, and it's due March 1st on Full Time Hobby (home of blog favorites White Denim). There's some pretty cool options if you pre-order the album, including shirts, a 4-minute album teaser mix, and most excitingly a DVD of Tunng live with Tinariwen, another blog favorite. I will definitely have to see that DVD, Tunng and Tinariwen sounds like a killer combo.

As for the album itself, I can't speak to it beyond the sample track they're providing. It's called "Don't Look Down Or Back" and it's a pretty standard Tunng song (by which I mean it's amazing). The synths aren't quite as prevalent as is some of their earlier work, but it has the the signature fingerpicked guitar, the distinctive voices, and some very rich interaction and harmony between the singers. It's a very solid track, and it's got me very excited for the album. Also, look out for the lead single, "Hustle", which is out February 22nd.
Don't Look Down Or Back - Tunng
Pre-order(CD, LP, FLAC, or MP3)

If you like that, be sure to check out their 2008 album, Good Arrows, a must have for anyone who even thinks they might like experimental folk music.
Amazon MP3

(News via Stereokill)

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New Freelance Whales track!

(image via WOXY)

New track from Freelance Whales, purveyors of the most beautiful folktronica around today. It's called "Rise & Shine", and it's much more acoustic than the material on Weathervanes, no synths that I was able to detect. It has a great get-up-and-go feel to it, and I can definitely foresee waking up to this song for the next couple of days. It's not quite as jaw-droppingly beautiful as some of the songs on Weathervanes, but well worth your listen. The song was recorded live on Austin radio station WOXY. They also played 4 songs from Weathervanes, including "Generator ^ 2nd Floor", one of my top tracks of 2009, so be sure to check it out.
Rise & Shine (Live at WOXY) - Freelance Whales


And by the way, I have a review of Transference, the new Spoon album, coming pretty soon. I really like it, I'm just trying to decide exactly what it is I like about it.
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Live Review: South China

Last night, South China played a show at The Greenhouse, on J street. Right off the bat, let me say, it was a fantastic show. I was really needing some live music, and South China really hit the spot. The first word that comes to mind to describe them is mellow. Their music isn't always sad, but it is always very mellow. There was nothing complicated about their msuic, but they did have the two key ingredients of good folk music: beautifully written songs, and amazing voices.

South China are Jeremy and Jerusha Robinson, a couple from Biddeford, Maine. Last spring, they gave up their apartment, and they've been on the road all around the US playing shows ever since. She plays keyboard and cello and does the main vocals, and he plays electric guitar, acoustic guitar, accordion, and provides backing vocals. The cello was plucked as often as it was bowed, which created a very cool effect, and really gave some extra oomph when she did start to bow.

I had intended to take video of one of their songs, but to tell the truth, I was too entranced by their performance to remember to. I did buy their album, so I have a track for you off of that. They've still got some dates on their Myspace, so if they're coming near you, I would highly suggest going, the put on a good show.

Partridge In a Pear Tree - South China
The record doesn't quite do the show justice, but its still good stuff.

Little Bird - Eels

(picture via Eels website)

New Eels album, End Times comes out 1/19. It was recorded mostly on a 4-track in frontman Mark Oliver Everett's basement. According to the Eels website, End Times is an album about divorce, but also about "the state of the desperate times we live in. The bottom line-ness of it all. The end of common decency. The loss of caring about doing a good job." The sample track, "Little Bird", has a feeling of sadness and apathy, and a very raw sound, in line with the recording method. Somehow the rasp in the singer's voice really pushes the emotion in a way that really heightens it. Only 6 months after their last album, Hombre Lobo, and in a completely different direction. Impressive, but more importantly, beautiful.
Little Bird - Eels

Jessica - Avi Buffalo

The Avi Buffalo single "What's In It For?" got quite a bit of buzz a while back, so I figured I'd give it a listen. Personally, I'd have to say I prefer the B-side, Jessica. It is a beautiful melody, and very well sung. The sparse instrumentation really helps convey the emotion, and the background noise that runs through the whole song gives it a very unique feel. There's something about it that is extremely powerful, in a very understated way.
Stream it on their Ilike page, but you really should just buy it. If you must have a free download, here's the version they played on Daytrotter, which isn't really quite as good as the one on the single.

Bonnie "Prince" Billy

I know this is pretty much old news, but lately I’ve been listening to a lot of music by Bonnie “Prince” Billy and absolutely loving it. Will Oldham is the man behind the pseudonym, and he has been making music since the early 90s.

It was brought to my attention by the posting of “Death to Everyone”, a track from his live album, Funtown Comedown, on Aquarium Drunkard , a favorite blog of mine. I loved it, and fairly quickly proceeded to download the album Superwolf, a collaboration with Matt Sweeney. It is an absolutely superb album, and if you are at all a fan of folk music, you pretty much need it. I'm a big fan of the sparse way they use electric guitar in a lot of the tracks, and I'm always a sucker for good vocal harmonies.

Bonnie "Prince" Billy is an amazing songwriter, fantastic lyricist, and above all has a voice that is an absolute pleasure to listen to. Check him out.
Death to Everyone (live) - Bonnie "Prince" Billy
Beware Your Only Friend - Bonnie "Prince" Billy (from his 2009 release, Beware
Superwolf:
Itunes
Amazon Mp3

Local Boy - Nat Lefkoff

I present to you DHS's very own Nat Lefkoff. I know him pretty well from lacrosse, and I found out a little while back that he is an amazing folk singer-songwriter. I'm completely obsessed, and I've already been to a show (he's just as good live). His guitar is rock-solid, the songwriting is fantastic, and his voice is amazing. The level of emotion that is in his music uncommon, and elevates it far beyond just his technical skills. I will say without a doubt he is the most talented musician attending DHS. He is gonna go places.
Rained In - Nat Lefkoff
Redlights - Nat Lefkoff
Maggie's Song - Nat Lefkoff
Dances (Live at KDVS) - Nat Lefkoff

Update: Yeah, he goes to Da Vinci, not DHS. All other points stand.


Check out his Myspace for even more awesome songs.

Best songs of '09

Here are my top 30 songs of the year. My liking for songs tends to shift, so if you asked me in a month or so, the order of this list would undoubtedly be different, but I think this does accurately reflect my favorite 30 songs. Enjoy.


30. Pursuit of Happiness (Feat. Ratatat and MGMT) - Kid Cudi
Very very catchy, and I absolutely love the backing stuff that Ratatat did. I'm a fan of Kid Cudi's voice as well.


29. New Moon Rising – Wolfmother
Wolfmother, the kings of making classic rock in the modern age. Amazing guitar riffs combined with a voice that sounds like a cross between Ozzy and Robert Plant. This was by far the best song off their ’09 release, Cosmic Egg.


28. Come Alive (War of the Roses) - Janelle Monae
One of my favorite voices, and a fantastic, creepy song.


27. Cousins - Vampire Weekend (Link is to youtube, Web Sherrif is out making people take down this mp3)
Sneak peek single off of the upcoming Vampire Weekend album. Not much to say about it other than very very solid, and I'm excited for the album.


26. Bricks Part 1 - Fishboy
I love Fishboy. Their brand of pop and their singers voice just absolutely get me every time. This 1:26 long nugget is extremely catchy and enjoyable. For earlier stuff, check out "Parachute" and "Taqueria Girl" of of their 2007 album, Albatross: How We Failed To Save The Lone Star State With The Power Of Rock And Roll.


25. Hold the Line (feat. Mr. Lex and Santigold) - Major Lazer
Horse noises, crazy surf guitars and cell phones ringing. Most high energy song of '09, and so damn catchy.


24. Quiet Dog - Mos Def
One of the best song from the album that got me in to Hip-Hop, Mos Def's "The Ecstatic". The beat is nothing more than some sparse percussion, really bringing out Mos Def's voice and rhymes.


23. Zero - Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Fantastic dance type track. Love the vocals.


22. Julia - The Very Best
The Very Best is Radioclit, British producer, and Esau Mwamwaya, singer from Malawi. Julia is the highlight of their album, Warm Heart of Africa. One of my songs of the summer.


21. Auditorium (feat. Slick Rick) - Mos Def
The best track from The Ecstatic. Features a really cool middle eastern beat, and a guest verse from Slick Rick.


20. Trash - The Whip
My favorite dance song of all time, hands down. I love the way it builds, the dark atmosphere, and the killer guitar.


19. Revenge (feat. Flaming Lips) - Danger Mouse & Sparklehorse
An album which was never actually released, due to an issue with the label. It's got a good backstory, if you're interested in checking it out. The album is called Dark Night of the Soul. I wasn't a huge fan of the album, but this song is absolutely fantastic. The first line, "Pain...I guess it's a matter of sensation" always sticks in my head forever.


18. Nitro - Cool Catz
I said that Trash was my favorite dance song ever, but this song makes me want to dance more than any other song. The little synth riff that comes in a little ways in and goes throughout the song is the catchiest thing ever. Party hip-hop at its best (and the only rap song my Dad loves).


17. Friday XIII - Deer Tick
Smith Hill - Deer Tick
I couldn't decide between these two fantastic songs to represent Deer Tick's 2nd release, Easy. Americana/folk ballads, and all sung in a voice that you either love or you hate. I love it.


16. Treat Me Like Your Mother - The Dead Weather
I worship Jack White, that is fact. A lot of people didn't really like The Dead Weather, but I really like it. Horehound is definitely one of my top albums of the year, and this is one of the many standout tracks (it was a tough call. Also check out 60 Feet Tall. Hell, just listen to the whole album). Oh, and they were superb live.


15. Ain't No Rest For the Wicked - Cage the Elephant
I first heard this song on the radio, and wound up buying (and loving) the album. Then I went to Outside Lands and saw them live. Damn. They put on a hell of a show, their lead singer is a complete maniac on stage. And they sound really good. Love the slide guitar.


14. Nightingale / December Song - Sunset Rubdown
A stellar track on a largely disappointing album. Sunset Rubdown is the side project of Spencer Krug, of Wolf Parade. They have a very unique sound, and I love it. I purchased some old material of theirs, and was very excited when this song and one further up the list came out. Unfortunately, the rest of the album was a letdown, but this song and the other one are no worse for it. Love the lyrics in this one.


13. Ain't Nothing Like You (Hoochie Coo) (Feat. Mos Def and Jim Jones) - Blakroc
Blakroc is the collaboration between The Black Keys and a bunch of rappers. On the whole, it wasn't as good as it sounded like it could have been, but this song is awesome. The riff is rock solid, and the "la la la"s stick in your head for hours. Mos Def's singing is great, and Jim Jones' rapping is damn good. All around solid blues/rap track.


12. My Girls - Animal Collective
I'll talk a lot more about this album in my albums of the year list. The call and response singing on this song is really cool, and I just love the soundscape they assemble underneath it. For a heightened listening experience, I would suggest this fan video which may very well be the coolest music video ever.


11. Got Nuffin' - Spoon
Not much to say about this one, other than fantastic. Just listen and hear it for yourself.


10. Bull Black Nova - Wilco
I love the way the piano chords drive the song. And the noise-rock jam at the end is killer. Great song. Oh yeah, and its about a dude who murdered his girlfriend.


9. Never Had Nobody Like You (feat. Zooey Deschanel) - M. Ward
The only M. Ward song I own. I don't know what it is, but there is something about it that makes it incredibly enjoyable to listen to. My appreciation of music is very mood based, but this is one of the rare songs that is always good, regardless of what I'm in the mood for.


8. Living Thing - Peter Bjorn & John
There's something about this song, and the whole album, that just makes me want to move. I dunno. I guess you could call it groove. Or something. Just listen.


7. Generator ^ Second Floor - Freelance Whales
One of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard, it really just boils down to that. Amazing folk song with some really cool instrumentation.


6. In the Flowers - Animal Collective
My favorite song from Merriweather Post Pavilion. I can never get enough of the way the song just explodes at 2:30. This is more than a song, its an experience. Best enjoyed at high volume.


5. Swimming in the Flood - Passion Pit
My favorite song from Manners, a fantastic album. This song always gives me the very strong feeling of floating underwater in a cold pool on a hot day. It's a good feeling.


4. I Start to Run - White Denim
This song definitely wins best bass line of '09. Look for this in my Albums of the Year.


3. Idiot Heart - Sunset Rubdown
Modern day guitar gods. The song starts intense and never lets up.


2. Laundry Room - The Avett Brothers
Thats the MP3, but this is the best version of the song (its the first song on that video). This is the most beautiful song I've ever heard. Perfect melody, and the vocal harmonies take it to a whole nother level.


1. All We Want, Baby, Is Everything - Handsome Furs
I don't know what it is, but this song has it. Something about the vocals, the ringing guitars... It's just perfect.

A nice, mellow acoustic post

The Rural Alberta Advantage have gotten a ton of hype, and seem to be universally loved by indie bloggers everywhere. I don't really like them that much. However, this song is absolutely beautiful.
In the Summertime (live) - The Rural Alberta Advantage

Freelance Whales. Are. Amazing. No other way to describe them. They create a really cool, mellow atmosphere, the vocals are beautiful, and the melodies are awesome. Listen.
Generator ^ Second Floor - Freelance Whales (my personal favorite)
Broken Horse - Freelance Whales
(I have a few other songs of theirs, let me know if you want any)

Discovered a really cool album,"We Shall Overcome-The Seeger Sessions". It's Bruce Springsteen and a huge group of musicians playing classic folk songs. Huge range of instrumentation, really cool recorded live feel. Definitely worth a listen. Check out the rest of the album if you like these songs.
Eyes on the Prize - Bruce Springsteen
O Mary Don't You Weep - Bruce Springsteen

Anyone who knows Bon Iver should be familiar with his song "Woods" from the Blood Bank EP. In it he sings a 4 line verse over and over (with autotune), each time adding another layer, until he has a giant chorus of himself (no other instruments). It is really really cool. Well now he is playing with a band called the Volcano Choir, and they have re-recorded it, with some really cool instrumentation. It is now named "Still". It really adds another level to the song. Can't decide which version I like better, so I'll just go with both, and I would highly advise you do the same.
Woods - Bon Iver
Still - Volcano Choir

The Antlers - Two

This is an amazingly fantastic song that i have had and played for quite some time, but I just found the video for it, which is equally amazing.