Orthodox Jewish Reggae artist Matisyahu’s meteroric (?) rise to stardom has been nothing short of extraordinary. And in anticipation of Matisyahu’s upcoming album comes the release of the single “One Day”. If I’m a record executive and I’m listening to this song, there’s no friggin’ way I’m passing on this. This has all the elements of a top 40 hit: peaceful message, singable lyrics, and sick grooves.
I remember the first time I heard Citizen Cope’s soulful “Let the Drummer Kick”. Who was this guy who sounded like he had a wad of tobacco in his mouth whenever he sang? Was this intentional or did he just not give a damn? Feeling simultaneously intrigued and repelled, I decided I needed a greater body of work to judge. And despite the sparsity of works from Citizen Cope (aka Clarence Greenwater) over the years, I have gained a deep love for his music.
And so the first independently released album from CC comes in the form of Rainwater LP. Indeed, Rainwater continues in the same vein as Cope’s previous work. Soulful pianos, eclectic vocals, and great harmonies. He takes on the part of troubadour with the bluesy “Keep Askin’”, which slowly ebbs into the 3 chord awesomeness of “Healing Hands” that is no doubt the album highlight. “I Couldn’t Explain Why” has a strange pleasantness that belies the urgency of the song’s content. The simple wisdom of “Lifeline” is only bested by the song’s beautiful chord structure. And ultimately, that’s what CC is at his best: his soulful voice bellowing over simple piano chords.
Junip is Jose Gonzalez’s (yes, that Jose Gonzalez) Swedish band. Intrigued yet? There doesn’t really seem to be any rhyme or reason to when Junip decides to release an EP. They’ve only put forth 2 EPs, and they’re about 4 years apart. But the truth is that these little gems are basically a way to get your Jose Gonzalez fix inbetween his sparse albums.
So if Jose Gonzalez is singing, and they’re basically playing the same instruments, what’s the difference between Junip and Jose’s solo work? Well, surprisingly there’s quite a bit. Junip is not so much Gonzalez’s alter-ego as it is a nice avenue for him to explore another side of his musical interests. A little edgier, more fast-paced, and generally more layered, Junip’s sound is intriguing and captivating.
I actually had this great post all written out, and it got deleted (damn you, inconsistent internet connection!). So here’s my quick shpiel, each song gets one line
“Rope and Summit” – Roped in to this sonic delight.
“Far Away” – Was that a Baba O’Reilly tribute at the beginning, or was that my imagination?
“At the Doors” – Clocking in at 8:18, this heavyweight is anything but: light and airy to the finish.
“Loops” – See title.
GUESS WHAT?Rope and Summit – EP is free. Get it here.
Swedish pop collective Sambassadeur exudes innocent fun, and what’s more fitting for the summer than some more Sambassadeur? It’s a rhetorical question, but the answer is not much.
Their third LP European is due out July 7th on Labrador (respect!), and they’ve released the single “I Can Try” for all to hear.
Norwegian native Sondre Lerche has been a long-time CSV favorite ever since his groundbreaking debut Faces Down. No doubt, Lerche has faced his fair share of so-so albums. He seemed to lose track of the sound that first put him on the map, trying to delve into the darker Two Way Monologue and even the edgier Phantom Punch. But what’s so wonderful about this 2009 release Heartbeat Radio is that Lerche is returning back to that wonderful sound of Faces Down. 8 years older, and many musical miles under his belt, it’s great to see Lerche come back to the scene of the crime.
Here’s a few thoughts about some of the highlights from the album:
“Good Luck” – Bouncy pianos and playful guitars, not to mention Lerche’s loving way with his vocals, makes this song a great listen
“If Only” – The 90′s power-pop strikes throughout the song are as humorous as anything Lerche’s ever done.
“Easy To Persuade” – A high-charged verse turns into an easy-listening chorus that reminds me a dusty road in the backroads of some eastern town stuck in the 80′s.
“I Guess It’s Gonna Rain Today” – Seamlessly transitioning from a ballad to a horn-laden sonorous song, this Norwegian wunderkind is perfect in this track.
“Goodnight” – The farewell track is a sweet cinematic delight, with its sensitive strings and Lerche’s warmest wishes.
I don’t know much about Charlotte collective Campbell the Band, but I know I love their sound. And when it all boils down, isn’t that the most important thing?
I’m reminded of the Art of Fighting when I listen to Campbell the Band: the delicate vocals, the nostalgic content, and the sweet-as-honey guitars that wash over you.
They’ve been kind of enough to stream 6 tracks from the their new album Bear With Us (see below), and I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised. My personal favorites are “Quickly Growing Old” and “Through Your Veins”, and I love the dark ivory and ebony at the end of “We Are Free”.
Toronto native and Broken Social Scene contributor (but honestly, who isn’t in BSS?) Jason Collett has struck gold again with his junior LP Rat a Tat Tat. Collett effectively mixes a rugged machismo with an introspective sensitivity that seemingly can only be found up north. Building on the critical acclaim of his sophomore release Here’s to Being Here, Collett throws all the deliciously catchy hooks and head-bopping riffs he’s got into Rat a Tat Tat.
He starts off innocently enough with “Rave on Sad Songs,” a modernized western ballad that evokes the likeness of Josh Ritter. But as the testosterone charged “Lake Superior” rings in, you get the feeling that this album is going to cover quite a bit of musical ground. The album highlight “Love is a Dirty Word” features a trippy bassline that conjures up the sound of Of Montreal, exploding out into a summery chirp of synths and guitars underneath Collett’s best imitation of Bob Dylan. “Bitch City” tones it down a bit with a funky-as-funk guitar laying down the foundation for a soulful easy-listening track. “High Summer” is an AM radio homage, leading into the sparkling intro that begins the straightforward folk ditty “Cold Blue Halo”. But the respite is short, as Collett fires right into the folk-disco (folsco?) throwback “Love is a Chain”. The yearning of “Long May You Love” blends perfectly with the brimming optimism of “The Slowest Dance”, which eventually relents to the resolution that is “Winnipeg Winds” and “Vanderpool Vanderpool”.
Best line: “From the ugly Madam’s gilded room/ The ivories tinkle out a merry tune / While out in the street the Reverend’s gloom / Ain’t saving nobody” (From “Vanderpool Vanderpool”)
Ah, June 14. In the US, this is (not popularly) known as Flag Day. Created by Prez Woodrow Wilson in 1916, Flag Day honors the adoption of the American Flag in 1777. Nevertheless, Flag Day was not officially established until 1949 via an Act of Congress. But it’s all good. We still love ya Woodrow.It’s the thought that counts.
Fun facts:
1. Pennsylvania is the only state in which Flag Day is a state holiday.
2. The longest-running Flag Day parade is held in Quincy, Massachusetts. The first parade was held in 1952.
3. But don’t worry Troy, New York. I haven’t forgotten you. Indeed, Troy, New York is home to the largest Flag Day parade.
Carl Sandburg Visits Me In A Dream will serve as a blog for me to share my thoughts and musings, with a special emphasis on music. The music that will appear in this blog is for evaluation/sampling purposes only, and is designed to promote up and coming bands. Remember, if you like the artist(s), buy the CD! If you are the owner of a sound file and would like it removed, please contact us and we will kindly take it down.
Concert News
