Carl Sandburg Visits Me In A Dream

Just to keep you busy on this dreary (in Chicago) Monday:

The Radio Dept. – “Heaven’s on Fire”

From The Radio Dept.’s third album Clinging to a Scheme.

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.

And here it is.

And you shall enjoy it.

Listen to “I Can Try”

Get started with Sambassadeur here.

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.

Get a copy of Heartbeat Radio.

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”.

Buy Bear With Us (iTunes link)

Bear With Us by Campbell the Band

Yes. This is old news by now.

No. It doesn’t matter.

Yes. You can still thoroughly enjoy this sleepy, swaying, delicate track in all its reverb glory.

Sufjan Stevens – “The Sleeping Red Wolves“

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”)

Grab a copy of Rat a Tat Tat.

Listen to “Love is a Dirty Word”

Listen to “The Slowest Dance“

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.

Fun tracks:

1. “Capture the Flag” by Dosh.

2. “White Flag” by Dido.

3. “Ashes of American Flags” by Wilco.

Enjoy!

There’s been no shortage of great international acts featured on CSV over the years, but I thought I’d feature some favorite tracks of mine from around the world.

Hevia – “Busindre Reel“.  Jose Angel Hevia Velasco is a Spanish bagpiper, and his music is as deliciously odd as that previous phrase.

Nitin Sawhney – “Mausam“. Indian-British musician is as exemplary of fusion music as there is. And the results are absolutely stunning in their delicateness.

Barbatuques – “Baiao Destemperado“. Sao Paulo, Brazil is the home of this eclectic collective that explore the true rhythms of the body. Amazing.

Mosh Ben Ari – “Nargish“. Israeli Mosh Ben Ari brings his peaceful messages into delightful and playful contexts.

You know what I’m talking about. “Maggie May”. The classic track from the one and only Rod Stewart. The Renaissance riff to begin the song, the stroking of the nostalgic guitars, Stewart’s smooth rasp, and who can forget the amazing solo at the end that culminates in the achingly nectar-sweet bridge?

Point is, it’s an amazing song! And we’re going to beat it into the ground with this post.

Listen to “Maggie May” by Rod Stewart.

Listen to “Maggie May (Live)” by The Faces, Stewart’s former band. If you’re thinking that this led to some serious legal disputes, you’re right…but not the way you’d think. The mandolin bridge that defines this song was allegedly written and performed by Ray Jackson, who has stated he was improperly compensated for his contributions to the song. Crazy. Just crazy.

Listen to “Maggie May” by Simtec & Wylie; a funked-out, horn-rich cover.

Hey all. I’m a little sparse on information about this band, but I got a few great ditties drop in my inbox about The B-roads and I wanted to share them with you.

The B-roads is the nom de plume of one Paul O’Hara, and his album B-movies features some great weathered, folky sounds. Rich and ethereal, bluesy and moody, B-movies sounds like Dave Matthews bumped into Iron & Wine on the street.

The B-roads have two tracks available for free on last.fm (see links below).

Check out the B-roads.

Listen to “If I look through your eyes”

Listen to “Slow Suicide“