Carl Sandburg Visits Me In A Dream

It’s a story that’s as old as record companies. Singer-songwriter is unknown. Singer-songwriter finally makes it. Singer-songwriter becomes huge. Singer-songwriter releases backlog of unreleased and out-of-print tracks–the masses go crazy for it. But here’s the part with which I have the most trouble: isn’t there a reason why these tracks were unreleased and out-of-print? Shouldn’t we expect and want the artist to have some discretion about what we, the listener, hear from them? Instead, we go googly-eyed and begin drooling over every little Sufjan scrap or Iron & Wine iota or Death Cab diatribe (for the sake of alliteration).

Despite this small rant of mine, I have to tell you that Iron & Wine’s Around the Well is quite excellent. There’s very little of  that lo-fi, unedited, unpolished dredge that one expects from these type of albums. While Beam’s cover of The Postal Service’s “Such Great Heights” has been around the blogosphere quite a bit over the past year, most of the tracks here are new to the casual Beam listener. Leading off the album is  “Dearest Forsaken”, a twangy bluesy folk number whose amber tones are as deep as Sam Beam’s beard.  “Loud As Hope” is as sweetly enticing a song as I’ve heard in many moons, with I&W’s gentle rasp softly swaying with the ebb and flow of the waves on some remote shore in a parallel world. And with titles like “Friends are Jewels” and “Communication Cups and Someone’s Coats”, there’s something for even the most literary of listeners. “Belated Promise Ring” is an easygoing playful piano ditty, and the inherent irony in the song is not to shabby either.

There’s something here for everyone: the novice, the casual, and the experienced I&W listener. This is not your run-of-the-mill backlog album, this is a great album in its own right.

Grab a copy of Around the Well.

Listen to “Loud As Hope”

Listen to “Belated Promise Ring“

The former frontman of the Scottish collective Love and Money, James Grant finds himself exploring blues-folk fusion on his solo effort Strange Flowers. Dually dark and hopeful, introspective and passionate, Strange Flowers is an interesting foray into the waning field of talented singer-songwriting. And though Grant doesn’t totally hit the bullseye here, he certainly seems to be (as he sings in “Darkstar”) ‘just on the cusp of something’. Check out the tracks below, and make sure to check out Strange Flowers.

Listen to “Darkstar”
Listen to “The Bay at The Nape of Your Neck“

Thought everyone needed a nice, shiny, bright song for an equally stupendous day.

Ingrid Michaelson – “Be OK” [removed by request]

The sophomore self-aware release from Canadians The Most Serene Republic …And the Ever Expanding Universe lacks the coherence and thoroughness of their debut release, but there’s certain maturation of this band into some electrofolk-pop mutant that will be deliciously sweet one day not too far from now. …And the Every Expanding Universe misses a great deal more than it hits, failing to find the catchy hook or infuse familiarity into their eccentric rhythms. But twice on this album do the cosmic forces (i.e. the band) bring forth a wonderfully delightful track. “Heavens to Purgatory” opens with a strained vocal wailing, servicing the banjo and a subtle breakbeat to burst open the song to emotive folk anthem. “Vessels of a Donor Look” begins with classic 70s rock piano chords, and as the drums come in, you won’t be able to tell the difference between The Strokes and TMSR. Pulsing bass lines, an absolutely infectious chorus, and the slight tremolo of strings all linger in the air long after the 2:55 closing mark.

Get a copy of …And the Ever Expanding Universe (officially drops July 14th).

Listen to “Vessels of a Donor Look”

Listen to “Heavens to Purgatory“

The critically acclaimed, highly esteemed and well-received UK downtempo duo is finally back with another release, Yeah Ghost. Details about the album are a little sparse at this point, but Sam and Henry have released a track from the album on their website, titled “Everything Up (Zizou)”. That, I do have for you to hear. No surprises here in terms of the musical style and vocals. I imagine it being one of the more upbeat singles on this album, but I guess only time will tell. Eska Mtungwazi is the one delivering those wonderful vocals.
Check out Zero 7′s Yeah Ghost at their website.
Listen to “Everything Up (Zizou)”

Listen to “Everything Up (Gold Panda Remix)“