Background promo - “Celebrate” is the title track to The Big Bend’s new album that the always-reliable label Misra Records (Phosphorescent, Melaena Cadiz, Destroyer, etc) is putting out on July 22nd. Celebrate is the band's fourth release and has all the hallmarks of a career milestone, calling to mind early-‘70s Neil Young in its songwriting, with vocals reminiscent of The Mountain Goats’ John Darnielle.
The Big Bend is led by Chet Vincent, who's been kicking around Pittsburgh playing in bands since he was a teenager. A regular fixture of the city’s quietly thriving music scene, he's established a reputation as one of the city’s most dedicated figures. Celebrate shows the band’s dynamic range - from the first discordant, psychedelic notes of album opener “The Spins,” through the closing bars of the stripped-down, folky “Su La Ley.”
In between, Vincent’s vocals show range stylistically, from shouts on the rowdier tunes, to lilting crooning reminiscent of The Weakerthans’ John K. Samson on the softer songs. He’s always been a storyteller, weaving characters and situations into songs, but here he takes on social issues, both obliquely and directly, on songs like “Cut Us Down” and Fingertrap.”
A few artist references in the promo above, however I reckon it's fair to say that The Big Bend have enough good attributes of their own as the song 'Celebrate' clearly demonstrates. I have not had a chance to check out any other material by the band yet, however on listening to this again today, that's down to happen pretty soon now.
Background promo - Robbie Miller continues to forge his own path with new single 'Road', and whispers of a new EP to come later this year.
Keeping busy following the release of triple j favourite, 'The Pain' and 2015 EP The Faster the Blood Slows, the Brisbane based Indigenous artist went straight back into the studio to create a wealth of new tracks. Devised as a collaboration with friend and band mate Nathan Morrison, 'Road' brings more electronic elements to Robbie's folk sound than ever before. Pulsating synths swirl around his signature brooding vocals to create an emotionally powered three and a half minutes. Connecting with listeners already, the track is off to a flying start, added to triple j rotation this week just a day after its debut on Good Nights with Linda Marigliano.
Road-testing the new material with a number of coveted support spots, Robbie recently toured alongside Josh Pyke and will support Dustin Tebbutt on his upcoming First Light album tour in August. He then releases his much anticipated second EP later this year with a few more surprises still to come.
'Road' really does showcase Robbie Miller's wonderful vocals. What's equally fine is the song, melodic, and sensitively layered, it's one of those instant likes for me.
Background from the band - We're a band from London called "Naropa". We're University students and have been really busy gigging around London for six months, as well as constantly writing and rehearsing, working on developing our sound and live set.
These demos got us a load of great reviews which you can check out on our website and we ended up getting completely booked up by London promoters four months in advance, as well as getting us some attention and airplay from BBC Introducing and further radio play worldwide in places like Holland, South America and USA. To keep building momentum, we got back into the studio as soon as possible and recorded our new single. The track is called "If Only While I'm Sleeping", and was officially released on all major streaming platforms yesterday, 25th June.
There's bags of passion and energy within the new song 'If Only While I'm Sleeping' from Naropa. It's clear the band have developed their sound through live gigging and plenty of graft, and by the sounds of this I'm not surprised they have been getting attention and performances. Ones to watch out for, I would say.
Background - Sometimes a band just comes out of nowhere. You might hear it in the background at a bar, or it might hit you on the radio while you’re stuck in traffic. Chances are, if you’ve heard Sydney’s Cigars Of The Pharaoh, you’ll know about it. With a power-packed sound that tips its hat to the blues rock genre, Cigars Of The Pharaoh have risen up to bring the groove back to the Australian music scene with a punch that feels good. The band formed in the early part of 2015 as a four-piece - a mixed bag of guys with a multitude of musical influences and pasts that gelled from the get-go. From indie pop to hard rock, soul to RnB, this special union of musical minds has created something that’s fresh, based on everything they’ve learned and heard from a combined experience of many decades inside the scene. Cigars completed the recording of their debut EP within months of forming, such was the pace at which their unique blend of talents moved. Hooking up with producer Sean Carey (Thirsty Merc) at Church Street Studios in their hometown of Sydney, they laid down a four-track EP across a single weekend. Mystery Highway was the result, and it’s already made waves, with national airplay on Triple M and a line-up of gigs that is growing quickly. Cigars will launch title track “Mystery Highway” as their first single with The A&R Department at Sydney’s Oxford Art Factory on 6 November, and a second single release, along with the EP, will follow shortly thereafter. In between, their helping The Lazys set off on their Canadian Tour on 31 October as part of a Halloween line-up at The Lewisham Hotel that also includes Chase The Sun. Cigars have more shows lined up in Sydney and at The Carrington in Katoomba, and will make a trip down to Victoria in mid-November for two shows in Melbourne. Upcoming Shows Saturday, October 31 - Lewisham Hotel, Sydney Friday, November 6 - Oxford Art Factory, Sydney Thursday, November 26 - The Valve Bar, Sydney. “Mystery Highway” by Cigars Of The Pharaoh will be released 13th of November 2015.
Cranking up the power, 'Mystery Highway' is a belting blues rocker. It's a timeless piece and brings images of a sweat soaked venue, with the audience as one, lost in the moment.
Background - The track (Take Control) is the bands second single, it was recorded in a hidden Grey Lynn attic in the home of main guy Jonathan Lee (Cut Off Your Hands). The band also features members of DHDFD's (Joel Beeby) and Tiny Ruins (Alex Freer). Bespin are nominated for the Critics Choice Award in New Zealand, and have also played St Jerome's Laneway Festival, Camp A Low Hum and The Others Way Festival. Bespin are also releasing their debut EP "Osiris" next Friday on 30th October, via Flying Out. Featuring five tracks, the EP is a woozy fuzz Gigantor, careering out of control down an 8-bit space age freeway. To celebrate the release of the "Osiris" EP Bespin are also on tour through New Zealand in November/December Thur - 12th November - Kings Arms - Auckland Fri - 11th December - Meow - Wellington Thu - 17th December - Darkroom - Christchurch Fri - 18th December - Chicks Hotel - Dunedin.
'Take Control' switches on, warms up, and then launches into a massively atmospheric song. Vocals are just right in the overall mix, with the harmonies occasionally heaving themselves, above the powerful soundtrack.
Background - Poetic words denote a sense of anti-establishment-ism that makes for a boisterous good time of sticking it to the man in Silent Feature Era's new single 'House of Thieves'.
Transporting the listener straight to the heart of this aesthetic, 'House of Thieves' features lyricism harking back to an almost Shakespearean/medieval era, allowing imagery to play out in the mind. Combining cinematic landscapes, crooked guitars, synths, organs & kooky electronica with a reckless, raucous attitude this group of Brisbane lads are returning from hiatus with gusto.
Featuring members of Brisbane music scenesters Speedstar, The Honey Month and Machine Age, this band of brothers released their debut album This Old Leather Heart in 2012, receiving a warm reception, a handful of QMA nominations and national airplay. With ‘House of Thieves’ the first taste from a forthcoming second album, expect some wild and not so silent times ahead.
I just love the 'traditional' harmonies that open this song, setting us up for a real storming track, mixing folk, come punk, and no nonsense rock, (and perhaps reminiscent a little of The Pogues). I just want to hear more!
Background: With a classic touch like James Morrison, the folky heart of Ray LaMontagne, and a unique melodic adventurousness, George Woods creates his own signature style of Folk-Funk.
George Woods’ effervescent lyrics and lighthearted indie folk sounds shine through on his new full-length studio album, “Heartbeat” which drops Summer 2012 in Boston, MA and online. “Heartbeat” features thirteen interwoven tracks, each blending classic grooves with stellar songwriting to guide the listener through a storybook summer soundtrack. The record aims to be relatable, and keep you moving with lush string arrangements, heart felt lyrics, and solid grooving rhythms. Some highlights are tracks like the laughable danceable "Stock In The Stars," or the gospel inspired powerhouse "Marry Me.”
George’s solo project began after the dissolution of his group Birds In The Woods, a Boston based band that won the 2008 Boston Music Festival, received radio spins at home and abroad, and saw placement in national publications such as Relix Magazine. His first solo EP, “Technicolor Costs Too Much,” released in Summer 2011, was self produced in a makeshift bedroom studio, and put together by hand with a one of a kind packaging. The record was well received by audiences across the northeast and online.
With a tongue in cheek audience rapport, and an energetic stage presence, George's live performances attract wide spread audiences from across Massachusetts. After recording “Heartbeat” at Phase 1 Studios in New York City this past spring, and sharpening his funky sound, George is gearing up for a new fall tour aiming toward introducing his folk-funk sound to all. The tour will help to expand George’s audience throughout the northeast and beyond with the help of some outside the box promotional strategies to leave audiences with great stories to tell and a sing-all-day hook on their lips. With a tight and engaging live show, stellar songwriting, and a personalized but lovable sound, George Woods’ new record “Heartbeat” is sure to capture the hearts and ears of music fans across the country.
2012Candy's Final Words: When genres collide, then Folk-Funk has to be a happy collision. George has class and style, as this fine song demonstrates, more folk funk please! Listen: Lucky One (MP3). Web: Official HERE.
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Background:Big Harp's sophomore album Chain Letters will be released on January 22 via Saddle Creek. Big Harp's Chris Senseney says, "A good portion of our new album deals with the tension between action and inaction, especially as evinced in terms of surrender and escape. This song kind of sums it up; for every ship righted another sinks from neglect, and the impossibility of perfection is a strong deterrent to action."
Chain Letters was recorded at Omaha's ARC studios with engineer Ben Brodin and partly at the band's Los Angeles home. The album was mixed by Mike Mogis (Bright Eyes, M Ward, First Aid Kit). On Chain Letters, the duo of Chris Senseney and Stefanie Drootin-Senseney is joined by their friend John Voris on drums. The album moves away from the rustic, pastoral sound of their debut and towards a truer union of their backgrounds (Chris grew up in Valentine, NE, an isolated cow town of 2,800; Stefanie is a native Angeleno). Built on a foundation of crackling fuzz bass and angular electric guitars and keyboards, the songs on Chain Letters play like a series of character sketches centered around escape and surrender, and the blurred borders where the two become indistinguishable.
Chris and Stefanie (The Good Life, Bright Eyes, She & Him) formed Big Harp in December 2010, after a three-year whirlwind that saw the two meet, have a baby, move halfway across the country, get married, move halfway across the country again, and have another baby. As Chris tells it, "I was playing in a band opening for The Good Life. Stef and I started hanging out, binge-smoking and chain-drinking, and we never stopped. Never stopped hanging out I mean. Within a few months Stef had a gut full of baby, and the bender came to a quick and bloody end." When the dust settled, they holed up in Stefanie's parents' spare bedroom, practiced for a week, and recorded their debut album White Hat, a collection of intimate, low-key folk-rock laced with subtle irony and dark humor that earned them comparisons to songwriters like Nick Cave, Tom Waits and Townes Van Zandt.
From the pained apathy of "You Can't Save 'Em All" to the cracked parade march of "Call Out the Cavalry, Strike Up the Band," Chain Letters finds the band enveloping and exploding their literate songs with fuzzed-out, needle-sharp textures. Chris says, "We really built the songs around Stef's fuzz bass. It was kind of funny -- we were sitting around in a bedroom playing really loud with no drums, just kind of trusting that it was going to make sense once we put it all together. Hopefully we landed closer to mid-'70's Iggy Pop than Leonard Cohen this time. Really I'd like it to sound like Leonard Cohen fronting The Pixies. It doesn't though. Maybe a little. You tell us."
2012Candy's Final Words: Stand out vocals over a superb soundtrack and then add in some lovely harmonies, the result is a superb song from Big Harp. Listen: You Can't Save Em All (MP3). Web: Official HERE.
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Background: Sometimes things just happen for a reason even if it takes 30 years. Case in point, The Emperors of Wyoming. The story starts in Madison, Wisconsin in the late 1970s.
The four Emperors – Butch Vig, Phil Davis, Franklin Lee and Peter Anderson – are playing in two different bands. They all know each other, but for one reason or another never join forces as a four-piece. By 1980, as things will have it, they all go their separate ways.
The Andersons move out to California and form San Francisco Bay area must-see, Call Me Bwana. Davis moves to and then back from L.A. and ultimately hooks up with Vig to form Fire Town, a celebrated pop-rock quartet that writes and records two critically-acclaimed records for Atlantic Records and is named Rolling Stone’s ‘Hot Band’ for 1987. But by the early 1990s Davis starts a long hiatus from music to raise a family while Vig starts a long run of making rock history: producing Nirvana’s Nevermind, Smashing Pumpkin’s Siamese Dream, Sonic Youth’s Dirty, and eventually creating Garbage, a multi-platinum international rock act. Meanwhile, Pete Anderson is running a couple businesses, blending wines in Napa, and playing music in northern California while brother Franklin Lee moves back to Wisconsin, directs films like The Life of Reilly, writes a book and plays his custom lap steels.
Fast forward to January 2009 - Davis, a singer and songwriter, is talking to old band mate guitarist Frank Anderson, "Hey, let’s make a country-rock record. A folk-rock record." Frank goes, "Great idea, let’s go!" Brother Pete goes, "I’m in on bass." And Vig, living in L.A., just coming off a two-year stint producing Green Day goes, “Cool. Need some drums and stuff?” So there you have it. Back together again, for the first time. Only problem is, now the band members live in four different cities in two different states. No matter. Times have changed. All four have home studios.
And so in 2011, two years later, through emailing ideas, songs, riffs, demos and mixes the Emperors of Wyoming is born and their masterful, eponymous debut, The Emperors of Wyoming, arrives. Under normal circumstances, that kind of distance and separation would be impossible. But of course, the Emperors all knew each from way back when, were old friends, and had played together in various combinations. So, no problem! In fact, this recording approach felt entirely natural and if anything brought them closer together, making the music even more distinctive and original. The result is an amazingly timeless debut record of American country folk-rock that bridges new and old, cutting edge technology and ancient instruments, spaghetti western, country-and-western, bluegrass, surf-rock, acoustic folk, hard rock, pop-metal, and pop-rock into a brand new American sound. A 10-song record with no filler, no gaps, that satisfies from the first track to the last. Yeah, it did take a long time to get here, but the Emperors of Wyoming wouldn’t have it any other way.
2012Candy's Final Words: It's a bit Alt Rock, pretty much Americana, and most certainly Country or Folk rock. Whats more important is this is one great song from a very fine album, like this, then you will like the lot! Listen: Avalanche Girl (MP3). Web: Official HERE.
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Background: Kevin and Lee Kelly, the husband/wife duo of Summer Aviation, may hail from Seattle, but their music departs to the colorful world of “Sunshine Fuzz Pop,” with notable stylistic nods to the Roger Nichols Trio, The Carpenters, and Stereolab.
Kevin, long active in Seattle’s Indie music scene as the frontman for the shoegaze/dreampop band, The Melody Unit, plays all instruments and is the band’s lyricist and composer.
Along with his wife Lee, who contributes sweet vocals and percussion, Summer Aviation combines the fresh, supercharged sound of 60s pop arrangements with post-punk avant-garde: Think Burt Bacharach meets My Bloody Valentine.
Recording in a home studio in the spring of 2012, this version of the classic 60s song "Love So Fine" is a song that perfectly encapsulates this vision of Summer Aviation. It replicates the 60s arrangements and vibe in a way that still feels fresh and modern.
2012Candy's Final Words: Summer Aviation ooze summer, and whilst it's the middle of winter here in Beehive Candy land, we are already thinking of next July when we play this wonderfully bright song. Listen: Love So Fine (MP3). Web: Official HERE.
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Background:Lauren Harding’s music is a direct result of a youth spent lying awake at night consuming David Bowie, Elton John and a bit of cabaret jazz. This musical symbiosis is the bedrock of her first EP, Heart In A Box, a love torn confessional filled with radio friendly hooks and smoke-filled speak easy vocals.
Harding moved from Massachusetts to LA to attend The American Musical and Dramatic Academy and pursue her passion in the city of dreams. Indeed, she dreamt up her whole EP while enduring her first months of congested LA traffic. A slight reprieve to visit her family in Cape Cod allowed her the time and space to organize and select what tracks she would pursue in the studio.
In 2010 she entered The LA Producers Club to track the six songs at breakneck speed over a long weekend. Delirious late night sessions were aided by strong lattes and Harding’s unyielding focus on capturing her musical vision.
There is a somewhat old fashioned tone to Heart In A Box, eliciting comparisons to Sara Bareilles with an indie edge as well as such greats as Fiona Apple and Ingrid Michaelson. Lauren's voice shape-shifts from breathy coo to a Stevie Nicks like rock and roll purr, all the while exuding a classic confidence and sexuality.
Lauren has been on the road for her ‘Steal Hearts Tour' since she completed the recordings, where she has been silencing rooms across the country. Her passion and dedication to her music is apparent in her unrelenting tour schedule and her growing number of fans around the world.
With a solid EP in the bag and a full length on the front burner, Ms. Harding has readied herself to shoot for the stars.
2012Candy's Final Words: It was a hard choice to pick one song from this album to feature, this is kind of representative if you appreciate it's only scratching the surface of a great collection of songs. Listen: Shooting Stars (MP3). Web: Reverb Nation HERE.
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Background: Los Angeles band He's My Brother She's My Sister has announced new West Coast tour dates in continued support of its Nobody Dances in this Town LP, set for a January 22 release with Park the Van Records. After touring the country relentlessly this fall, two appearances at Austin City Limits Festival, and a pair of well-received NYC performances, the band is excited to revisit the West Coast in 13 different markets. The tour will start on January 17th in San Diego and end on February 2nd in Santa Ana. Full list of dates below.
Earlier this fall, He's My Brother She's My Sister premiered a cover of The Mamas And Papas' "Straight Shooter" via Prefix, and this month the band's "Touch the Lightning" single was featured as a Starbucks iTunes 'Pick of the Week' receiving 267,775 downloads. Featuring sibling vocalists and a tap dancing drummer the band exudes the earnestness of folk, the colorfulness of glam rock, the rawness of blues, and the theatrics of cabaret. Brother and sister Robert Kolar and Rachel Kolar split vocal duties, with Robert on guitar and kick drum and Rachel on tambourine. Lauren Brown adds full-body percussion with her simultaneous drumming and tap-dancing. Oliver Newell plucks the stand up bass with joyous flair. Aaron Robinson plays lead guitar on a lap slide. The eclectic troupe has toured the US extensively having shared the stage with Neko Case, Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, Charles Bradley, The Blow, Local Natives, Dawes, Dr. Dog, My Morning Jacket, and many others.
2012Candy's Final Words: Not only do they keep their teeth and gums healthy, He's My Brother She's My Sister, just happen to make toe tapping music that is just spot on, spot on we say.... Listen: Tales That I Tell (MP3). Web: Official HERE.
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Background: Versatile and stunning merely begin to describe rising British folk/pop artist Laura Saggers. The quirky girl next door just released the cheeky sing-along hit, "Summer Fling" for any girl who has ever been caught in a whirlwind summer romance. And for those not so fond of the fall, the super talented songwriter is also releasing the powerful and appropriately named single "Warrior". Both singles are now available on iTunes.
Bringing a slew of specialties to the table, Laura Saggers seems to have it all: talent, beauty, brains and an epic story. Adopted by a loving British couple, Laura realized she was destined to be a star after finding out that her American biological parents were an 80's punk rocker and a model; Laura is also a model and actress. Born in San Francisco, Laura had her first taste of melodic magic at four years old after hearing a jazz pianist play a "Little Mermaid" song. "I realized that songs could be interpreted and played however you want and I was determined to learn that skill," she explains. Before moving to the UK, a bright-eyed Laura begged for and received classical piano lessons to kick-start her future career. Unfortunately, Laura's mother passed away when she was 14, yet she honors her by keeping her as a musical inspiration along with the artists her mother would listen, such as Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday and Judy Garland.
Success means education for Laura. After completing her studies in piano, Laura became a piano teacher herself. The recipient of a music business degree from the Academy of Contemporary Music (UK), Laura formed and fronted heavy rock band, Sennah for four years. Being in a band allowed her to experiment and develop the pleasing tone we hear in her latest songs.
Crooning over an acoustic guitar and piano, Laura breathes life into "Summer Fling" with colorful melodies and cute choppy verses. Like a romantic daydream, the single, produced by Ryan Richko, who won the 2012 Sundance Award for Best Original Score, speaks on being in denial about falling for an amazing guy and ends on a high note. The dark-haired beauty also shows off the spunky side of her lyrics as she sings, "it didn't mean a thing, just some hot sex summer fling." As a major supporter of local up-and-coming artists, Laura recruited Jim Callans of Old Star Press to design and create the art for the Summer Fling album cover, which were each screen printed by hand. The singer brings a handful amount of her limited edition EPs to her shows and sells them with a heart-felt secret message thanking her fans.
Giving fans a double-whammy, Laura's second single "Warrior," produced by Chris Hayman takes on a more sentimental approach. Flowing at a steady pace, Laura uses a soothing tone to compliment the ethereal ambience of the song. The metaphoric song encompasses the power of the heart to love again after being badly burned by it. Naturally compared to stars Lenka and Regina Spektor, the singer's prolific ability to connect to her audience has been witnessed on stage at venues such as The Viper Room, Hard Rock Café and the GuilFest (UK) among others. Her track record includes opening for bands such as Bowling for Soup, Wheatus and The Blackout, a song publishing deal and a placement in the PlayStation game Juiced.
2012Candy's Final Words: I was trying to work up some clever link around leaving San Francisco for the UK, played this song again and thought why bother, just say it's a wonderful song from an artist that will get noticed more and more, see, that was much simpler! Listen: Warrior (Player Only). Web: Official HERE.
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Background: Expect to be captivated by a roll of basement jams and garage grooves on the debut album Running Faster from post-punk/indie rock band The Antics, available now on iTunes and Bandcamp. The New Jersey-based band cooks up a cohesive rock genre toss-up featuring fuzzy guitar riffs and raw emotion that is quickly making these guys hometown heroes.
Fun-loving and gifted, the young men of The Antics are Luke Meisenbacher (vocals/guitar), Derek Rosengarth (guitar), Kyle Hammerschmidt (bass) and Josh Reitan (drums). Practicing their instruments from an early age, each member grew up in different parts of NJ but play like they've been together all their lives. Just three years strong, the band has endured a few changes but their brotherly bond enabled them to create a staple sound that defines their vibrant personalities. The Antics' music radiates high energy supported by crunchy guitar licks, bright melodies and toe-tapping drums. Their material often reminds fans of post-punk super groups and major influences Joy Division, The Strokes and The Smiths. The group describes their sound as post-punk influenced accented by 60's pop, surf and garage rock.
Stellar production from RH Management Services LLC and Meisenbacher on Running Faster illuminates the lead singer's bright, clean vocals, while enhancing the texture of each instrument. Penning the album's lyrics, Luke draws inspiration from The Beatles and The Strokes to conjure up sing-along melodies and conversational lyrics. "I think I'm a very honest songwriter," Luke said. "I don't write music that sounds exactly like something else or things that don't matter to me." The Antic's heartbreak single "In The Night" is a prime example of the group's knack for catchy rhythms with an impressive 50-second, raging guitar solo to finish off. With a track listing to cure heartache, much of the subject matter on Running Faster surrounds love, pain and happiness.
Killer hits, relatable lyrics and rock star personas - equipped with the full package, The Antics are delivering a top-notch effort of rock through the ages with a modern twist. Having entertained crowds at Connecticut and New Jersey venues The Space, Crossroads and The Stone Pony, The Antics are eager to take their masterpiece to the masses.
2012Candy's Final Words: The Antics! Reminding people of my age of just how much more energy I had a few years ago (OK a few decades ago). Not to worry it's great, feisty, and they are a stand out band. Listen: Touch The Sky (Player Only) Web: Official HERE.
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Background:David Lee was born on October 12, 1986 in Seoul, South Korea. His family moved to the United States when he was 8 years old, and while growing up in Fairfax, VA, Lee discovered new music through Napster when the music sharing site first appeared. Subsequently, Lee borrowed a friend’s guitar and fell in love with the instrument. Since picking up the guitar at age 17, Lee has lived a life reflective of his passion. Devoting himself to writing and performing, he quickly forged a path that would lead to the recording of his debut album, Without Any Guard. The title track was inspired by his reckless pursuit of music and the obstacles he faced along the way.
After high school, Lee attended Virginia Tech where he spent much of his time in the studio working on the first batch of songs. After several years of recording, Lee still failed to achieve the sound he was looking for. But his shortcomings would only serve to prepare him for what was next.
In 2008, Lee’s exceptional talents gained him recognition by one of the industry’s best, Willie Mitchell, the legendary producer who discovered Al Green himself. Willie took David under his wings and Lee would fly out to Memphis each month for weeklong recording sessions with his mentor and producer. Lee began to blossom as an artist and together Willie and David forged a sound all their own.
Without Any Guard would become Willie’s final project, as he would sadly pass away in 2010 before completion of the record. It would take Lee nearly three years after Willie’s passing to complete the project they started together. Setting the bar even higher, Lee made sure to surpass his late producer’s expectations on an album that would have to speak for both of them.
Willie’s thumbprint is all over the record. Arguably nowhere more so than on the stunning opening track “We’re All Meant for Something Good.” The track has a certain timeless quality to it, at once familiar, yet fresh and new at the same time. It’s a testament to Lee’s songwriting that Willie asked to be involved in the making of this record. The collision of two worlds has left us with an incredible album written by a young Korean man living in DC, produced and interpreted by a legendary man of Memphis.
Without Any Guard by David Lee will be released on February 12, 2013. Listen out now for the first single “We’re All Meant for Something Good” impacting December 2012.
2012Candy's Final Words: You would expect the production and the musicians to be top class with Willie Mitchell's involvement, however listening to David Lee's vocals is a delight in it's own right, this is a super song. Listen: Were All Mean't For Something Good (MP3). Web: Official HERE.
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Background: Alternative/indie rock band Friend Slash Lover delivers compelling themes of love and relationships in their second single and music video "Unaware" from the sophomore album The Grey Area, available now on iTunes. The song takes on the electric vibe that the Los Angeles-based band is known for, with reflective and provoking lyrics and smooth melodies soaked in a warm, spacious sound.
Connecticut native and fine artist Josh Mintz fronts the band and is supported by bassist Frank Day, drummer Jake Hayden, and guitarist Greg Pajer. Original members Josh and Frank have been playing together since 2005 and later added Jake and Greg to create the full-band sound that Josh always desired. Also skilled on the guitar, the singer-songwriter was destined to be a musical force at just eight years old. After he joined a drums corps marching band, he went on to play the fife for seven years winning over 70 awards in state and national competitions. As a teen, Josh fell in love with 80's rock bands like XTC and also dabbed in some electro-pop, which is evident in his current sound. Music icons such as David Bowie, John Lennon and Kurt Cobain also inspire him. In 2010, Friend Slash Lover released their debut EP As American as Ones and Zeroes to raving reviews and a catapulting fan base that is still gaining momentum.
Using personal life experiences and his obsession with art as inspirations, the former Rhode Island School of Design student lends his whispery vocals to inject heart-tugging emotion into his lyrics on "Unaware." Complimenting soft guitar strums and spotty ethereal synths, Josh sings a powerful message about how we forget to stop and appreciate the people that matter most in our lives. The pensive song was produced by Mintz and Thom Flowers and was recorded at Orange Whip Recording with special guest Angus Cooke on cello.
Fans have seen Friend Slash Lover rock out at a slew of popular Los Angeles music venues such as The Roxy Theater, The Viper Room, Bootleg Theater and the NOMAD Los Angeles art show. With the locals and music critics on board, Friend Slash Lover is bound to touch music lovers across the nation and beyond.
2012Candy's Final Words: This is one fine song from half a dozen we received and I can happily report the rest are just as good. The alt/indie rock world is a crowded place, these people stand out. Listen: Unaware (Player Only). Web: Official HERE.
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Background: Driving power pop/rock band Wise Girl will soon release their self-titled three-song EP on iTunes. The New York fivesome is equipped with straight forward talent and no need for gimmicks. The Wise Girl EP showcases the perfect combination of poppy melodies, rockin' guitars and quirky songwriting technique all wrapped together in a no-nonsense attitude.
After two years in the making Wise Girl is the brainchild of songwriter Abby Weitz (vocals, guitar). Wise Girl includes Chris Fasulo (producer, lead guitars), Abby Lee (backup vocals, tambourine), Harry Keithline (drums) and Sean Kane (bass). Growing up, front woman Abby Weitz was such a music fanatic that she had to listen to The Beatles in order to fall asleep at night. At age 11 she started taking drum lessons which then led to her interest in learning to play the guitar at age 13. Born to lead, Weitz started a Strokes cover band in high school followed by an original band under the name of Drella, playing basement/garage shows in her hometown of Long Beach. After dropping out of college six weeks in because "it wasn't her thing", she started a punk band with her best friend Liz called The Lookaways. Determined to take over New York City, The Lookaways played notorious clubs around Manhattan such as Sin-E, Lit Lounge, Don Hill's, including the legendary CBGB's and on a mini East Coast tour, played a few shows on the Van's Warped Tour. After The Lookaways split, Weitz decided to start a music publishing company called Wise Girl, stemmed from her strong belief in "Girl Power" and she ended up using the name for her current project.
Elements of Wise Girl's music can be attributed to their influences drawn from some of Weitz's favorites such as The Ramones, The Beatles, The Muffs, Letters to Cleo, Weezer and 60's girl groups. The band's feisty single, "Set In Stone" is a perfect example of how the band creates a rhythmic blend of catchy melodies, gritty guitars and witty yet matter-of-fact lyrics. Produced by Chris Fasulo, the Wise Girl EP's content centers on love gone wrong and the battles that we face when caught in the middle of it.
The internationally known designer Kate Spade featured Wise Girl on their website and blog as a runner up in a Battle of the Bands contest to open for The Vivian Girls at their SXSW showcase. They were also chosen as one of the 15 bands to represent Manhattan in New York's Annual "Battle of the Boroughs," sponsored by New York Public Radio in June of 2012. Picking up a consistent following along the way, Wise Girl has performed at notable NY music venues such as Mercury Lounge, The Bowery Electric, Piano's and The Knitting Factory. The band has recently opened up for major pop punk band The Dollyrots and Rock 'n' Roll sensations, Prima Donna and performed as a part of the 2010 and 2011 CMJ Music Marathon. To add to the list, Wise Girl did a performance/interview on the national television show Beta TV and earned a mention in an American Songwriter's article ("How Does an Independent Artists Stay Relevant While Creating New Music" - Sept. 2012). In September of 2012 Weitz scored an endorsement deal with guitar company, Daisy Rock Guitars.
2012Candy's Final Words: Why can't there be more bands like this, I just love female vocals over good raw rock, it's more than a personal thing as Wise Girls (yep, I know the band are not all female) are getting rightly noticed. Listen: Set In Stone (Player Only). Web: Official HERE.
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Background: It was 1998 and Mike Cykoski (A Is For Atom) had just started playing bass with the promising Colorado-based jam band Zuba. The group had previously self-released 3 albums and had a robust touring schedule of 175 dates a year. The esteemed slapstick movie screenwriter and director duo the Farrelly Brothers used snippets of Zuba tunes in Kingpin and were planning to use full songs in the upcoming There’s Something About Mary, and major labels were sniffing around the swampy folk quintet. Mike was on the verge of a lucrative career but things didn’t go as planned. “The band ended before a deal happened. It was a bummer, we had a great tour booked and we cancelled it. I remember looking at the itinerary, thinking ‘I’m going to be successful, it’s going to be great,’” he says with a laugh. “And then it was like ‘Oh no, now I’m going back to work at the restaurant.’” After an exploratory journey involving sideman gigs, relocations, and music school, Mike now resurfaces with a two-EP solo bow of literate, conceptual, thoughtful and playfully-orchestrated modern folk-rock. On July 15, Mike released part one of the project, with the other EP released on September 15th.
Ironically Mike’s decision to leave the hired-gun musician hustle came when he netted an audition with pop-rocker Gavin DeGraw. “That was the trigger on the path to becoming a solo artist,” Mike reveals. “I was in his apartment and he played many songs on the piano; they were all so good and he impressed me. It was right before he flew to LA to do the showcase that got him a record deal.” Inspired by songcraft and the art of composing, Mike enrolled in the prestigious NYU music technology master’s degree program, wisely taking a job at the university that paid for his tuition. There he met his producer Julian Cassia in a film scoring class. Julian was a fan of Mike’s compositions and grew up in England, France, and Beirut. His appreciation for Mike’s writing style and his international aesthetic perspective provide the tunes with some tastefully ethnic flourishes and, at times, some sturdy Brit-pop hooks. The project began in earnest nine months ago when Mike finished his master’s thesis and landed a steady job. He was feeling optimistic and introspective. “I wanted to set some goals, and I really wanted to do an album,” he explains. “I got this job, I got the funding, I got this producer; I said it out loud and it happened.”
2012Candy's Final Words: This song fits the category of 'a grower' almost perfectly for me. First time around I was a little dismissive, however I checked out a couple of other tracks and played this again and thought wow! So that's my definition of a grower, how about you? Listen: Creation (MP3). Web: Facebook HERE.
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Background: Brooke Campbell’s music transports. Ready to head down the rabbit hole?
You listen to music to be moved. To escape. To feel good. Sometimes, you hear another’s take on your own story, as if the song were written for you. With music as ethereal as that of Kate Bush, as rhythmic as Regina Spektor’s, and lyrics as arrestingly honest as those by Tori Amos, Brooke’s lived-in voice welcomes you instantly to all of the above. Her latest ep, The Escapist, explores new territory: her first fully orchestrated recording. She enlisted Colin McGrath to create a Sinatra-inspired string dreamscape for “Sparkle.” For the driving atmosphere of “Ice Covers the North,” she worked with Matt Frey to transport the listener through a chilling wilderness with an army of cellos. All four tracks were produced by William Berlind, who produced Brooke’s previous album, Sugar Spoon.
After hearing her perform live as the winner of the International Arts Movement Songwriting Competition, Wall Street Journal critic Terry Teachout blogged that he fell in love with Brooke’s “shivery breathless voice and deep-toned guitar playing.” She went on to be a featured artist in the 2011 Spotlight Series for Denon Audio and is a regular on one of Long Island’s most popular podcasts. “I don’t know why she isn’t better known. I haven’t been more impressed with a singer-songwriter in years.” —Terry Teachout, blogger & Wall Street Journal critic
NYC via North Carolina, Brooke has toured extensively throughout the U.S. to audiences up to 2,000 strong — a dynamic she prefers, because when the lights are low, everyone can get lost in the crowd and get what they want from the songs. “That’s how I like to hear music,” she says.
The year Brooke started writing, 100 songs emerged, a level of output that hasn't slowed. From her first tune, “African Violet,” to The Escapist’s “Ice Covers the North,” images of nature loom large. Wishing to manifest that imagery into the physical world, Brooke collaborates in other art forms. She most recently worked with Leslie Scott, artistic director of the Manhattan-based BODYART Dance, and new-media artist Reid Farrington on a video project with choreography set to Brooke’s song “What Do You Do?” that was featured in the International Dance Festival in NYC.
The Escapist delves into the positive and negative aspects of the -ism — both dreaming and avoidance. Everything the rabbit hole will allow. With remarkable depth, melancholy mingles with hope as the lyrics search out their answers. “Whatever we hear in our hearts, however discordant or beautiful, is worth sharing,” Brooke says. The result is music that surprises your senses.
2012Candy's Final Words: This is another artist where it was difficult to pick one song that was representative of their overall qualities. Having accepted I could not, I opted for Sugar Spoon by shutting my eyes and hitting random. There must be more scientific ways... Listen: Sugar Spoon (Player Only). Web: Official HERE.
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Background: Rock artist Bob Pressner breathes raw emotion and honesty into every line on his new album King of Nothing, available now on iTunes. Drenched in glowing charisma, Bob shows off his versatility throughout the album as he touches on subjects like love, spirituality and retrospection. With his relatable lyrics and velvety tone, it is no surprise that Bob is becoming a magnetic force for music lovers; the official video for the title track "King of Nothing," directed by Max Moraga and produced by Kurt J. Zendzain has already garnered more than 18 million views on YouTube!
Hailing from White Plains, NY, Bob has always been a musician at heart. Intrigued by the styles of Jimi Hendrix, Leonard Cohen, Joni Mitchell and Paul McCartney, he fell in love with the guitar at 15 years old and now has a vast collection. As he grew older, he continued to practice his art and refine his skills - he even studied with the famed 1950's beat poet Allen Ginsberg. After experiencing a traumatic event and years of being part of the workforce, Bob took a leap of faith to pursue a music career. Later, Bob moved his family to Florida where he began writing and recording heavily. The singer-songwriter soon had his first album Hard Driving Rain, followed by Riding the Wave, Summer in Illusion Land, Me and the Kid from Santa Cruz, and Honor Among Thieves. In addition, Bob was a featured artist on the album A Musical Tribute to the Olympics, which was a commemorative compilation featured at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Delivering an exciting mix of head-bopping songs and tear-jerking ballads, Bob displays charm and grace on his latest effort, King of Nothing, produced by Grammy-nominated producer David Grow (Michael Bolton) and Jim McGorman (Avril Lavigne, The Corrs). With more than three million YouTube views for the music video, "The Blue Has Left Your Eyes" is a catchy mid-tempo track that reveals a more vulnerable Bob. The singer laments the loss of his queen with sweet melodies led by a soft guitar and carried away by wailing violins in the emotional "King of Nothing." Hoping to meet his internet crush in "iGirl," Bob's infectious hook is lead by major rock guitars and supported by a solid vocal performance. Each song on this well-produced album is capable of transporting listeners to different dimensions.
Receiving "Top Honors" for his outstanding YouTube views, the New York native has been cranking out live performances left and right for his fans. Bob's performances landed him a gig at the South By Southwest Music Festival and his very own Comcast-produced OnDemand concert entitled, "Bob Pressner at Infinity Music Hall." The concert was promoted on cable channels like A&E, AMC, ESPN, CNN, Bravo, MTV, VH1, and TBS. With four albums under his belt, Bob has let go of all inhibitions and nothing can hold him back. The world better get ready.
2012Candy's Final Words: Saved this for last in this round up as Bob Pressner is a very hard act to follow. Along with a rather a large number of others I love this song, check out the album, it's a goldmine of great songs. Listen: King Of Nothing (Player Only). Web: Official HERE.
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Background: Having grown up with two home towns, it was almost destined that Sarah Beatty would occupy the space that exists between things. She grew up in Rochester, NY and Parry Sound, ON and cut her musical teeth in Parry Sound and Niagara. This singer-songwriter now calls Hamilton home. Her first full length album Black Gramophone was released earlier this year on May 24th.
Earning her a spot at this year’s Mariposa Showcase, Beatty has gone straight to the fundamentals in her debut solo effort. In the collection of 12 original songs, she pares down the instrumentation and ramps up the contemplation, curiosity, and charm of honest-to-goodness song writing. Recorded live off the floor, hers are where lyric, melody, and rhythm exist in distilled form. Purposeful in her approach, Beatty is a courageous one, letting smart lyrics, strong melodies, and a listener’s imagination take centre stage in this intimate and conversational recording.
Sarah Beatty writes, most simply, contemplative folk songs with spacious arrangements. As a consequence, she deftly occupies the space between blues, jazz, country, soulful styled roots music. Where her music shines brightest is with her dynamic vocals, expressive lyrics, and engaging melodies. The result is a sonic landscape that is old, new, natural, and made with her hands. Using an acoustic guitar and her voice, she writes honest, emotionally rich, and charming songs that often speak of situation and circumstance. As Glen Brown of Greater Hamilton Musician puts it “With lyrics like, ‘You can steal my thunder, but I can steal your rain,’ Beatty gets you thinking. She keeps her melodies simple and beautiful. Her voice is confident, uplifting and controlled. It's easy and good to sing along. Her music is a perfect match for this room and this time.”
2012Candy Comments: Sarah described her music to Beehive Candy as 'live from the floor with her own added harmonies'. The featured song's harmonies remind me a little of Sweden's female duo First Aid Kit, a positive thing by any standard. Sarah tells stories and drives the songs with some funky acoustic guitar play. Excellent debut in our opinion.
Listen: To Be (player only) Web: Official HERE.
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Background: For those who miss the era of rock where music had bravado and albums had artwork, we present to you...hope. Echoes de Luxe have a sound and spirit that embodies 70's era rock bred with the sonic experimentation of today. The LA-based band's upcoming Hold On EP will be released independently on October 16, 2012.
Echoes de Luxe released their debut self-titled EP in March of 2009, mixed by Alex Newport (Jubilee, Mars Volta), and mastered by Pete Lyman (Mars Volta, Death Cab for Cutie). After playing shows in support of the EP, the band began work on self-producing their recordings in their home studio, releasing them as The Notremonde Demos in February of 2010.
For their forthcoming Hold On EP, Echoes de Luxe teamed up with Velvet Revolver's Dave Kushner and veteran producer Ryan Williams. As the band explains, "Having self-produced everything before, it was a challenge to relinquish control to someone, even with as much respect and confidence as we had in Dave’s talents. Ultimately and without surprise, the songs came out far better than we had hoped, and it was all down to the creative partnership and fun working atmosphere."
2012Candy Comments: This is a beautiful piece of music with captivating vocals. It's got into my head, please feel free to welcome it in to yours.
Listen: Hold On (mp3) Web: Official HERE.
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Background: The Resident Cards are Dana Boulé and Erica Buettner, two American wanderers who met each other in 2009 by random chance in Paris, France. Classically trained in piano, Dana came to Paris from the Brooklyn punk scene, having fronted several punk bands (Stupid, The Sobs and Dirty Magazine) and having broken several accordions and keyboards whilst regularly being thrown out of clubs. Upon arrival in Paris under the misty grey of winter, she realized life has a softer side and released her first solo album Going, Gone in 2009. Her music has been featured in Woody Allen’s Midnight In Paris and she has scored several feature films, multiple short films and various commercials for clients including MTV Networks.
Erica came to Paris as a literature student at Nanterre University while also studying French at the Sorbonne. She started her musical career playing the folk clubs and theatres of Paris solo with a guitar. Her mesmerizing voice and songwriting caught the ear of French producer Pierre Faa (Peppermoon) and together they released her first solo album, True Love and Water in 2011. She has shared the stage with the likes of Patrick Watson, Ron Sexsmith, Warren Ellis, This Is The Kit and Emmanuelle Parrenin.
The Resident Cards’ debut album We Won’t Leave Any Trace was written and recorded over ten months in a tiny Parisian apartment high above the Seine river. Belgian drummer and singer-songwriter Boris Gronemberger (V.O., Raymondo, Françoiz Breut) was brought in to add percussion and Belgian beers. The final album was mixed and mastered in London by Charles “Chicky” Reeves at Sublime Studios who has mixed such legendaries as Johnny Cash, Tito Puente, Radiohead, Charlie Watts, Ronnie Wood and Grace Jones among others.
2012Candy Comments: Wonderfully flowing music with complementary vocals that seemingly skip across the music. The sort of music to have on at breakfast time to ensure the day starts well.
Listen: Pyramids (mp3)Web: Facebook HERE.
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Background: Since their inception in late 2010 That’s No Moon has been busy destroying dance floors across the Midwest. The band’s infectious brand of indie-rock, which includes elements of pop and electronica, can transform even the most apathetic of crowds into a raucous dance party. With the release of their debut full length in September of 2011 That’s No Moon proved that they are much more than just an energetic live act. While still retaining the excitement of their live performance the 12-track album showcases the band’s ability to meld pop sensibility with musical energy and integrity.
Showing no signs of slowing down, the band is already in process of recording a second full length album. After teaming up with independent label Blue Box Records in 2011 the band has high hopes for their sophomore release. The new album was released on September 27th, 2012 at the Pygmalion Music Festival.
2012Candy Comments: Fresh and energetic and simply refusing to sit in any particular musical genre.
Listen: According to Ancient Alien Theorists (mp3) Web: Official HERE.
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Background:The Silver Snails are a full indie pop music project based in the medieval wine country of Romagna, Italy, with strong ties to the West Coast. Anchored by the husband and wife team of Lucas Ward and Elisa Fantini, their mission is to open human hearts through song. The Silver Snails draw from a diverse palette of musical influences including classic rock and pop, Beethoven, electronica, Irish, jazz, Nigerian, Kawali, Asian folk music, and more.
The Silver Snails 2012 debut offering 'The 7 Melodies' constitute an integrated musical spell designed to unlock joy and unleash magic within the lives of those who listen. Revealed by inspiration, diligently sculpted, recorded and mixed over a 2 year period, The 7 Melodies incorporate English, Italian, and French, with touches of Mandarin and Sanscrit. Fresh and melodic, the songs are stylistically adventurous, yet firmly rooted in post-Beatles pop. Like the 7 colors of the spectrum, each song is shaded by a different frequency of emotion. Taken together, the songs form a powerful audio Love bomb.
The Silver Snails are supported by a community of musicians, artists, dancers, and friends, each of whom has added their personal inspiration and talent to the project. Using music as a platform, the Silver Snails aspire to open a channel of Love from the human family to the Sky, inspiring and supporting others to do the same.
2012Candy Comments: Euro-pop this most definitely is not despite the international flavours. Great pop it most definitely is, with a whole host of other musical elements carefully crafted in.
Listen: Beatrice Russo (mp3)Web: Official HERE.
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Background:Sóley Stefánsdóttir, student of composition and member of the Icelandic indie-collective Seabear and Sin Fang, has announced performances down the East Coast with Of Monsters and Men. The mostly sold-out tour supports her We Sink debut full-length via Morr Music, and begins on November 15 in Toronto stretching through November 30 in Orlando. The intimate songs off We Sink will be performed across two dates in NYC and Toronto, and the tour commences after she performs at this year's Iceland Airwaves Festival. Morr Music will host a showcase at the festival on Wednesday, October 31 featuring FM Belfast, Sin Fang, Pascal Pinon, Prins Polo, and Sóley.
Sóley has received over 7 million YouTube views for a fan's uploaded stream of her song 'Pretty Face.' It's hard to believe this is the same artist that did not deem herself a proper singer until she had been around the world and back with Seabear. We Sink is 13 tracks of intricate compositions where she combines seemingly disparate elements with stunning ease. Sometimes incredibly catchy and other times amazingly quirky, the album has a carefree quality reminiscent of earlier Icelandic acts but also calling to mind the sounds of Joanna Newsom, or the Casady sisters circa 2004.
Oct-31 - Reykjavik, Iceland - Iðnó^
Nov-15 - Toronto, ON - Kool Haus (sold-out)
Nov-16 - Toronto, ON - Kool Haus (sold-out)
Nov-17 - Montreal, QB Metropolis - (M for Montreal) (sold-out)
Nov-19 - Boston, MA -Orpheum
Nov-20 - New York, NY - Terminal 5 (sold-out)
Nov-21 - New York, NY - Terminal 5 (sold-out)
Nov-24 - Philadelphia, PA - Tower
Nov-25 - Washington, DC - 9:30 Club (sold-out)
Nov-29 - Atlanta, GA - Tabernacle (sold-out)
Nov-30 - Orlando, FL - Beacham (sold-out)
^FM Belfast, Sin Fang, Prins Póló, Pascal Pinon
*All US dates with Of Monsters and Men.
2012Candy Comments: I was simply captivated by this song. Atmospheric with enchanting vocals, the various references with the likes of Joanna Newsom, Coco Rosie and fellow native Bjork are well deserved and like these artists Soley has many unique attributes.
Listen: I'll Drown (mp3)Web: Morr Music.
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Background:Erica Spring the singer/keyboardist of Au Revoir Simone released her self-titled debut EP this spring on Cascine.
Backed by Jorge Elbrecht of Violens on percussion and as producer, she has taken elements of her band's sound and spun them into her own brand of bittersweet, sun-bleached pop. The EP has seen praise from Vogue, Pitchfork, and MTV Hive among others.
Erica is performing at CMJ 2012 this year as below.
Wednesday 10/17- New York, NY - Le Baron
(Ghostly & Cascine Presents: CMJ Showcase)
2012Candy Comments: I nearly missed this song as it was packed in with a number of artists promo's all appearing at CMJ 2012 this month. It's the only solo song I have heard by Erica and to use that well worn cliche again, I will be checking her music out some more based on this.
Listen: Hidden(mp3) Web: Facebook HERE.
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Background:Jaggery’s sound moves from haunting lullabies to intricately-woven, mixed-meter rants to catharsis-inducing, barn-burning mini-epics ~ oftentimes within the same song. The Boston-based five piece establish their genre-defying style ~ blending elements of darkwave, jazz, classical, ethereal avant-rock, and chamber art-pop ~ with the release of their EP Private Violence ~ an ode to Truman Capote’s In Cold Blood ~ on November 13, 2012.
Private Violence takes a turn for the macabre, adapting its title from criminologist Richard Rhodes’ book, Why They Kill, which describes criminals as “differ[ing] from the rest of us in following through with private violence.” Nowhere is that more evident than through frontwoman Mali’s primary inspiration behind the EP: Perry Smith, misunderstood murderer from Truman Capote’s In Cold Blood.
Capote described the 1959 murders as “four shotgun blasts that, all told, ended six human lives.” Mali and Jaggery opted for a more musical approach to the tragic Kansas crime scene. “Hostage Heart,” the first song written on the EP, works as both a tribute to Perry Smith and an identification with the murderer. “I was looking at myself, and looking at Perry, yet also expressing the wonder and horror over what his hands were capable of,” explains Mali. “Oh my god” is a dark, gritty jazz recounting of Smith’s hanging, and the EP ends on the aptly titled “End Song,” a wistfully sung ballad to Smith as a confused and abused child.
Jaggery found its footing in New York, writing and performing under different monikers until 2004 when the band began to take its current shape: songstress/pianist Singer Mali is flanked by a rotating lineup of musicians and instrumentation, including Daniel Schubmehl’s West African and jazz approach to the drum kit, Tony Leva’s often prepared upright bass, Rachel Jayson's avant-classical viola, and Petaluma Vale’s glistening Celtic harp and backing vocals.
2012Candy Comments: Having read all of the above, I was ready to be disappointed as the promo set expectations so high. I am now delighted, do I need to say any more....
Listen: Hostage Heart (mp3)Web: Official HERE.
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Background: Emerging as a musical force, Daniel Robinson recently swept the competition winning an award in the prestigious international John Lennon Songwriting Contest 2012. His single "The Last Night" was selected from thousands of submissions from all over the world as the winner in the Electronic music category. It is currently available for streaming on the contest website.
Harmoniously gifted, the Buffalo, NY native's music was showcased to a respectable judge panel of industry insiders and pulled through triumphantly. Based in Toronto, Canada the singer-songwriter released his song as part of his debut EP North, last year, which was received well by fans and music writers. The EP propelled Daniel's fan base and established him in his home town. Honing his skills since the tender age of 5 years old, Daniel's iconic influences, such as Elton John and Bruce Springsteen, ignited a relentless desire in him to write his own material and become a musical prodigy. Maneuvering from genre to genre during his self-discovery, the electric performer finally found his niche and has been soaring ever since. His unique, soothing but powerful vocals serenade crowds and has gotten him named as iHeart Radio's Artist to Watch.
Overly impressed by the work they created together in the last year, it was Daniel's songwriting partner and producer Mark Zubek submitted the song to the online contest without telling him. The synth-heavy song boasts a fun, bouncy beat with light-hearted lyrics about finishing the summer off with a bang. Melodiously dynamic and dominant, the song landed Daniel the Grand Prize in his category.
The John Lennon Songwriting Contest is an international contest, which began in 1997. Year round, the contest is open to both professional and amateur songwriters who wish to produce their best songs. Among the thousands who entered, there are 12 categories. By looking mainly at melody, composition and originality, the judges decided that Daniel's song "The Last Night" was flawless in all three aspects.
2012Candy Comments: He may have one a prestigious award and deservedly so, however I get the impression this is more about a love for music and natural talent, all of which is present in abundance within his EP North.
Listen: Heroes In The Sky (player only) Web: Official HERE.
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Background: Listening to The Growl’s colossal sound – built up in layers of percussion, with guitar tones one music critic aptly described as leaving the taste of iron on your tongue – it is hard to believe the band began as simply as a bedroom recording project between two friends. Seeing them live, as a six-piece dual-drummer wall of sound, more so. And while the core of the band is still founding members front-man Cameron Avery and bassist Clinton Oliver, it is safe to say the band has come a very long way in a very short time.
Self-produced, The Growl’s debut EP Cleaver Lever is a worthy addition to a stunning body of work emanating from the current pool of musicians in the West Australian city of Fremantle. With Cameron Avery’s other band Pond (in which he plays drums) having recently released their new album to a stunning reception across Europe and the US, and with Tame Impala doing all of the amazing things they are doing, the Fremantle music scene has produced some of the most interesting and imaginative music of the last few years - and that’s just looking at the bands the world outside of Australia knows about.
Back at home, The Growl have had a fairly speedy rise to prominence. In addition to being championed by Australian radio’s most influential figure, Richard Kingsmill, The Growl found a very strong grassroots following upon debuting as a live act in 2010. Community radio loved them, other bands loved them, and within a year The Growl were capable of selling out big shows to an increasingly diverse audience.
2012Candy Comments: No nonsense timeless rock, that appears to have been fired out of a Bourbon soaked cannon.
Listen: With the Sharp End of a Trowel (mp3). Web: Official HERE.
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Background: The Peach Kings, Texan Paige McClain Wood and Californian Steven Trezevant Dies, recently released their new EP Handsome Moves (September 6, 2012).
They describe their sound as "gypsydelic," which is just what it sounds like. Stemming from their inability to choose one genre of music to play, they coined the term in order to reflect their own personal view of the band. "Gypsy-" because they were inspired by playing outdoors and "-delic" because it contains just a hint of strange. Paige and Steven are strongly influenced by visuals in cinema and fashion. In fact, Drew Barrymore discovered their music and selected them to be a part of her Spring Music Preview spread for V Magazine, alongside the likes of Mayer Hawthorne, M83, Spank Rock, Warpaint, and The Drums.
The duo fill the gap between upbeat rock and downtempo electronic, with comparisons being made to The Black Keys, Mazzy Star and The XX. Similarities can also be drawn to Little Dragon, and how they do so much with so little. They draw their sound and inspiration from the smoky smooth crackle of blues, folk, and soul vinyls as well as the hypodermic tones synthesized in various beat laboratories across the globe. Stripped down, The Peach Kings' power is derived from Paige's hauntingly sensual vocals combined with Steven's complementary rhythm and picking.
2012Candy Say's: Delightfully upbeat with great harmonies this is just one standout song from the EP, if you like this, you will love the rest.
Featured Track: Fisherman (mp3). Web: Official HERE.
Background: Recording as Steffaloo, Los Angeles native Steph Thompson has in a very short time captivated indie music fans with releases in two distinct styles. Her 2011 self-released debut, Meet Me In Montauk, and her 2012 Mush full-length, Would You Stay, surround the beauty that bursts from her songs with acoustic guitar, ukulele, piano, simple percussion and lots of white noise. The feel is intimate bedroom pop, as if the songs are her way of finding the courage to stop her heart from swallowing her whole.
Praise has been swift to come her way, with performances at SXSW, CMJ, FMLY Fest, glowing reviews, notice in the Los Angeles Times, and her very own Daytrotter Session. In addition to Steffaloo's stripped-down solo material, she has teamed up with a number of acclaimed electronic producers as a guest on their albums. Her work with Blackbird Blackbird, Sun Glitters, Teen Daze, Chrome Sparks and others has been featured in important outlets including The Fader and introduced a whole new fanbase to her work. Whether releasing emotional solo meditations or collaborating with cutting-edge electronic producers, Steffaloo is set to become an artist of note.
2012Candy Say's: Dreamy vocals work there magic over sublimely crafted instrumentation and the lyrics tend to draw you in around the second listen.
Featured Track: Would You Stay (player only). Web: Official HERE.
Background: British artist Emoticonman has been creating electronic music for a number of years and can be loosely described as psychedelic. With the odd nod towards Aphex Twin and similar, the music can both excite, challenge and draw you in to the mixture of rhythms and carefully crafted layers of sound.
Some simple melodic instrumental pieces compete with energised soundscapes, occasional and intriguing lyrics and on occasional outright hostile assaults on your audio senses.
Listening to Emoticonman over the last few years has been described as "following a journey of musical exploration - where nothing can be ruled out". The intriguing thing is you never know quite what to expect. With much of the self released material now available at the artists site, this is your chance to enjoy some fine electronic explorations. (The featured song is yet to be released).
2012Candy Say's: We chose this instrumental piece partly as it's an exclusive for ourselves, but more importantly we just love the way it builds and flows. This is just one aspect of Emoticonman, believe us there is so much more!
Featured Track: Wandering Off The Path (player only) Web: Official HERE.
Background: Portland, Oregon-based duo Jenn Rawling & Basho Parks are continuing to tour in support of their debut full-length, Take The Air (Waterbug Records), by setting out on another national tour.
Jenn Rawling, ace songstress and vintage American folk and old-time country singer, joins masterful string player & harmony singer Basho Parks in a partnership of formidable musical talent and palpable sympathy. Their music marries musical and lyrical imagery, with repetitive figures that subtly shift accent and meaning like sunlight gleaming from a stream. The result is an emotionally rich recording which unfolds more gifts with each listen. There's a flowing kindness at the heart of this music; more than a nod to our barn-raising ancestors; and a formal mastery of the song form whereby the inevitable continues to amaze. Recorded and produced with Skyler Norwood (Blind Pilot, Horse Feathers) at Miracle Lake Studios, the duo pared down a fistful of songs to the ten that comprise Take The Air. This album will get in your head and heart, and you won't mind a bit. Using both stripped down and lush instrumentation,Take The Air reels the listener in with its delicate subtlety and glowing warmth. This is superb artistry and the effect is profound.
A rare songwriter whose varied and distinctive melodies carry the story, Rawling's tunes can trace the motions and calls of birds and, in "Gather it Up," the determined, seemingly desultory motion of honey bees, echoed and elaborated by Parks' evocative violin. A melodic section's end in "Whistle Bird" soars headlong into a new feeling; "Little Swallow" sashays in its groove like an old string band mainstay: Basho's fiddle calls up a little bit of "Cotton-Eyed Joe," daring all within earshot to give it up, to join in and dance like fools. "Leaving So Soon" captures the suddenness of a relationship loss by reaching the chorus so quickly we haven't got time to prepare for it. We are waiting for more of the verse, each time, but like the person who left the author, it's not there. And we feel it. "Lonely Owl," "Gather it Up" and "Tidal" are cousin to the ecstatic nature poetry of Mary Oliver. Jenn Rawling's songs don't connect the dots. They leap, and the intuitive connections she makes are so true that she takes us with her. Each track stands individually on its own, together forming a collection of work both captivating and full of heart.
Jenn and Basho met while contributing their musical talent to bands around Portland over the past few years. Both were recovering from potentially career-ending wrist injuries, but had almost simultaneously decided to play music again. Discovering these common loves propelled the folk-duo to become romantically and musically inseparable, and now they're taking it all on the road with a great dane and a van. "Ours is a story of triumph in the face of adversity. Real phoenix-rising kind of stuff," chuckles Parks.
Happy to call the Pacific Northwest home, the two revel in its natural scenery and draw much from the flora and fauna of this region. Wisconsin-born Rawling spent many summers working atop a firetower in the Mt. Hood wilderness. Wrapped in that isolation, Jenn was able to give focused attention to songwriting. She is an artist governed by intuition, tapped into the poetry of human life, who bides her time painting, gardening, cooking and admiring salamanders. "[I'm] inspired by nature's seasons, and these are my love songs to the moon and stars, ballads to the birth of flowers, and human expressions of love and loss," she explains.
9/28/12 - Boats & Bluegrass Festival - Winona, MN
9/29/12 - Boats & Bluegrass Festival - Winona, MN
10/4/12 - Wisconsin Public Radio - Madison, WI
10/5/12 - Huebschman Barn - Platteville,WI
10/6/12 - Musical Offering - Evanston, IL
10/11/12 - Folk Alliance Midwest - St. Louis, MO
10/12/12 - Folk Alliance Midwest - St. Louis, MO
10/13/12 - Folk Alliance Midwest - St. Louis, MO
10/14/12 - Folk Alliance Midwest - St. Louis, MO
10/15/12 - Barking Spider Tavern - Cleveland, OH
10/17/12 - Club Helsinki - Hudson, NY
10/19/12 - WERU Radio - Ellsworth, ME
10/20/12 - 430 Bayside - Ellsworth, ME
10/27/12 - Circling the Square Press - Gardiner, ME
11/2/12 - The Listening Room - Fargo, ND
11/3/12 - tba - Minneapolis, MN
11/8/12 - Luna Cafe - De Pere, WI
11/10/12 - Lakeshore Fellowship - ManItowac, WI
11/16/12 - Cafe Carpe - Ft. Atkinson, WI
11/24/12 - Trempeleau Hotel - Trempealeau, WI
11/29/12 - Avogadro's - Ft. Collins, CO
12/1/12 - tba - Denver, CO
12/2/12 - The Helm - Colorado Springs, CO
2012Candy Say's: Wonderfully produced and simply beautiful music, we could say more, however we will let the song do the talking (or singing...).
Featured Track: Gather It (mp3). Web: Official HERE.
Background: Boston-based indie-rock quartet Mean Creek have announced their Fall tour of the U.S. supporting Counting Crows. Marking the band's second stint with Counting Crows, the tour will begin on Tuesday, October 23 in Port Chester, NY, at The Capitol Theatre and will take in 14 evenings across the U.S., culminating in an appearance at The Wiltern in Los Angeles, CA, on Saturday, November 24. Prior to the tour, the band will be performing as part of this year's CMJ Music Marathon from October 17-19. Mean Creek will be on the road in support of its soon-to-be-released sophomore album titled Youth Companion.
Youth Companion, an album that was recorded at 1867 Recording Studio by Chris McLaughlin, producer of the band's acclaimed debut album, The Sky (Or The Underground), will be released through Old Flame Records on October 16th.
Building its name and acquiring a presence that has led to the band becoming a household name in their native Boston, the four members of Mean Creek - Chris Keene (lead vocals/guitar), Aurore Ounjian (guitar/vocals), Erik Wormwood (bass), and Mikey Holland (drums) - delved into their newest musical project with the assurance and conviction that comes from knowing their legitimate place in the world. Recently named "Best Boston Band" by the readers of The Boston Phoenix for the second straight year in a row and taking home the coveted "Album/EP of the Year" for their John Agnello (Dinosaur Jr., Kurt Vile)-produced Hemophiliac EP at the 2011 Boston Music Awards, Mean Creek have their sights set on impacting the nation as they have in their hometown with Youth Companion, the band's most focused and biggest-sounding work to date.
Mean Creek will be performing at this year's CMJ Music Marathon as well as touring the U.S. supporting Counting Crows during October and through all of November. Tour dates below.
October
11 - Allston, MA - Brighton Music Hall (Youth Companion release show)
17 - New York, NY - CMJ - Fontana's - Pirate! showcase
18 - New York, NY - CMJ - Pianos - Old Flame Records showcase
19 - New York, NY - CMJ - Bowery Electric - The Outlaw Roadshow showcase
23 - Port Chester, NY - The Capitol Theatre
25 - New York, NY - Roseland Ballroom
26 - Huntington, NY - The Paramount
28 - Charlottesville, VA - nTelos Wireless Pavilion
November
01 - Boca Raton, FL - Mizner Park Amphiteater
04 - Orlando, FL - Hard Rock Live
07 - New Orleans, LA - Mahalia Jackson Theatre
09 - Thackerville, OK - Winstar Casino
10 - Austin, TX - Stubb's
12 - Houston, TX - Bayou Music Center
14 - Albuqerque, NM - Kiva Auditorium
16 - Tucson, AZ - AVA Amphiteatre
20 - San Francisco, CA - Nob Hill Masonic Center
24 - Los Angeles, CA - The Wiltern
2012Candy Say's: This is a powerful and anthem orientated song, that avoids the trap of becoming cluttered with to much going on. It's just great music.
Featured Track: Young and Wild (mp3). Web: Official HERE.
================================================== Background: Along with his band the Coastal Quartet, Nova Scotia’s young and hungry jazz mastermind Will Fisher (The Will Fisher Coastal Quartet) has been nominated for a 2012 Music Nova Scotia Award. The group’s debut album Portage earned them a nomination in the Jazz Recording of the Year category. Winners will be announced on November 11, during Nova Scotia Music Week festivities in Liverpool. Prior to the Awards, the quartet will be on the road, giving fans at The Rex in Toronto and Avant Garde Bar in Ottawa a taste of Portage live, leading up to its much-anticipated release on October 28.
Blending contemporary jazz with world and roots influences to create a distinctive sound, The Will Fisher Coastal Quartet’s Portage features an exciting line-up of Canadian jazz artists including Jon Challoner (trumpet), Mikko Hilden (guitar), Mike Downes (bass), and special album guests Nancy Walker & Matt Giffin (piano) and has received strong feedback from jazz critics across North America.
Named a "young, bright light on the cusp of a great career” by CBC Radio, Will has performed with a wide range of artists across Canada and the United States, including Nancy Walker, Kieran Overs, Kirk MacDonald, Bernie Senensky, Nathan Hiltz, Craig Wagner, Jennah Barry, Ian Sherwood, Aidan Knight, and a Canada-wide tour with Coco Love Alcorn, to name a few.
A multi-recipient of the Emerging Music Business Grants from the Nova Scotia Department of Communities, Culture and Heritage, Will has received numerous provincial and national awards including the 2008 CBC Galaxie Rising Star Award and the 2008 Chico Berardi Award (Nova Scotia Talent Trust).
2012Candy Say's: It's the likes of Will Fisher that have helped me overcome my somewhat blinkered view of 'jazz' music. This is simply wonderful, could be late night in a club, or pulling back the curtains for a new day.
Featured Track: The Great Karoo (player only) Web: Official HERE.
Background: MPress Records label founder and singer-songwriter Rachael Sage announces CMJ performance on October 17th at Rockwood Music Hall in New York. In addition, Rachael will be on tour through the end of the year playing with legendary acts such as Judy Collins & Al Stewart all over the U.S., U.K., and Ireland.
These concert dates follow a successful release of Rachael’s Haunted By You Acoustic EP, which became available via iTunes on July 18th, 2012. Featuring material from her recent 10th album “Haunted By You,” the acoustic EP marks another first for the acclaimed artist during the milestone year of her 10th release. The collection of guitar-based originals, supported by members of Sage's touring band The Sequins, includes guest appearances by Dar Williams, Katie Costello, Counting Crows member David Immergluck and Grammy ® nominee Seth Glier (MPress will also commemorate this benchmark album with its first vinyl release slated for Fall 2012).
The collection included on the acoustic EP merges the classic pop sensibilities of Sarah McLachlan with the sweeping dynamics of Glen Hansard. Sage’s poetic lyrics shine in this stripped-down setting, while cellist Dave Eggar (Elvis Costello, Coldplay) and percussionist Quinn (Tracy Chapman, Jesca Hoop) add just the right amount of accompaniment to her crystalline vocal performances.
10/04 | The State Theatre | Ithaca, NY * | 8PM
10/05 | Phleps Mansion Museum | Binghamton, NY | 6:30PM
10/06 | Fargo Theater | Fargo, ND * | 8PM
10/07 | Babcock Theater | Billings, MT * | 8PM
10/12 | Belle Mehus Auditorium | Bismark, ND * | 8PM
10/17 | Rockwood Music Hall | MPressFest CMJ 2012 | 2:30PM
10/19 | Tupelo Music Hall | Londonderry, NH + | 8PM
10/21 | Infinity Music Hall | Norfolk, CT + | 7PM
10/24 | Club Passim | Cambridge, MA + | 8PM
10/27 | Island Arts Centre | Lisburn, N-IRL * | 8PM
10/28 | The Lyric Theatre | Belfast, N-IRL * | 8PM
10/29 | Down Arts Centre | Downpatrick, N-IRL * | 8PM
10/31 | City Winery | New York, NY + | 8PM
11/03 | The Birchmere | Alexandria, VA + | 7PM
11/07 | The Castle Hotel | Manchester, UK | 8PM
11/08 | The Elgin | London, UK | 8PM
11/09 | The High Barn | Great Bardfield, UK | 8PM
11/10 | The Railway Venue | Bolton, UK with Never Forever | 8PM
11/12 | Kitchen Garden Café | Birmingham, UK | 8PM
11/20 | CC Muziekcafe | Amsterdam, NL | 8PM
11/25 | Club Barinton | Cologne, DE | 8PM
12/02 | Mocha Maya’s | Shelburne Falls, MA | 2PM
12/03 | Town Hall Theater | Middlebury, VT * | 8PM
12/04 | Radio Bean | Burlington, VT | 8:30 PM
12/05 | The Flying Monkey | Plymouth, NH * | 7PM
12/10 | The Wood Theatre | Glen Falls, NY * | 8PM
12/15 | The Museum at Bethel Woods | Bethel, NY * | 8PM
* With Judy Collins
^ With Jann Klose
+ With Al Stewart
2012Candy Say's: Some people can make terrific music seem so simple to record and deliver, should not be allowed... It's Rachael Sage for goodness sake...
Featured Track: Invisible Light (mp3). Web Official HERE.
Background:Little People is the moniker of UK based downtempo electronic musician Laurent Clerc. He returns with his second full length album We Are But Hunks Of Wood on Youth & Progress Records. Along the lines of DJ Shadow, RJD2 and Four Tet, Little People plays downtempo, intelligent electronic music. Part beats, bleeps and real live instrumentation, this new record falls in a place where Bonobo and Explosions in the Sky would hypothetically meet. Having followed an unconventional route to success, thanks to in no small part to Pandora radio generating him huge amounts of exposure, he has seemingly existed outside of traditional promotional channels.
This new album comes a whole 6 years after his first album (Mickey Mouse Operation) was released on Illicit Recordings. His debut, an accomplished ode to late 90's instrumental hip hop, has gone on to be in the iTunes Top 30 selling electronic albums in the US for the last 2 years.
We are But Hunks of Wood is a sonic leap forward for Little People, which establishes him as a key proponent of the downtempo electronic music scene. Having initially come from the world of instrumental hip hop where tracks are often more akin to just sketches or interesting ideas, Laurent Clerc's pieces are fully fledged songs whose arrangements create a sense of mood and movement, effortlessly going from nuanced electronic patterns to soaring string arrangements over the course of the journey. This is no beat tape.
2012Candy Say's: Having rightly sung the praises of Emoticonman earlier, we are reminded that Little People has produced one incredible piece of music. Love the expression 'down tempo electronic', this is just so well thought out and a joy for the ears.
Featured Track: Aldgate Patterns (mp3). Web: Official HERE.
Background:The Bloody Angle are a four-piece southern-fried swamp rock band, with a touch of Americana and just a hint of country. Made up of Matt Singleton, Jason Butler, Dustin Bugg and Brian Temples, the Bloody Angle was first formed when Singleton and Butler got together in early 2011. Their style features gritty guitars, lap-steel, and finger-picking, as well as vocal harmonies and traditional keyboard tones.
The eponymous debut album will be available October 16, 2012. The album was recorded entirely in the analog realm, at producer-songwriter Matt Singleton’s studio in the Central Virginia countryside. “We wanted to produce a record that was warm, immediate, and spontaneous,” said Singleton. “This album was a direct backlash against the modern style of making music... no edits, no grid, no auto-tune. We wrote and performed together in the studio, and captured the songs to tape as they came out, warts and all.”
The Bloody Angle is named after a section of the confederate line at the battle of Spotsylvania Courthouse, during the Civil War. The fighting there was particularly intense, with over 18,000 men killed or injured in a 24 hour period of hand-to-hand combat. “We wanted the name to be on the dark side, to have some local roots, and have an element of southern history.” says Singleton. “In fact, one of the first songs I wrote when we started working on this project was an illustration of this battle, from a young confederate soldiers point of view. It ended up being the first song on the record.”
After over a year in the studio, the band is excited about the upcoming release, and future live performances.
“We have all been doing this a long time,” says Singleton. “The chemistry is there. It’s been a long time coming, and we are pretty proud of this record. We can’t wait until it drops, and we hit the stage to bring it live.”
2012Candy Say's: They only had to describe themselves as a "southern-fried swamp rock band" and we were intrigued. It's a bit like The Allman Brothers and The Black Crowes giving a history lesson, this is just so clever and we are hooked on the whole swamp rock thing.
Featured Track: Bloody Angle (mp3). Web: Official HERE.
Background: Freight train rockers Jerzey Street Band have just made their US debut with the release of their striking new album, Breaking Radio Silence on September 18th, 2012. These Brit rockers will be right at home in the States; their comforting Americana anthems conjure images of convertible top-down car rides, lost loves, and most importantly, give you the warm & fuzzy feeling of returning home after being away for far too long.
Chaneling tinges of Tom Petty during his Mudcrutch days, the track seamlessly straddles the line between melancholy and uplifting:
“… I don’t ever feel at home, thought this world was mine to roam.”/ “We all shiver to the bone, gotta make it on your own” / “We’re all crazy too.”
The song has a heartening familiarity about it, as if it might be an Eagles song you heard at a party that one time.
Hailing from Manchester's bubbling creative melting pot, the Jerzey Street septet has had a long and eventful journey to this point in their career. Not fitting into any current fashions or genres, the quality of their music alone has earned them support slots with many musical legends including Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes, Blackfoot, Alabama 3, Sandi Thom, John Allen and Wishbone Ash. High profile shows, the release of their album in the UK and support from the likes of Maverick Magazine, Bearded Magazine, and BBC Radio 2's Bob Harris have enabled them to grow and cultivate a highly diverse fan-base spanning the UK.
Jerzey Street Band’s tasteful use of pedal steel guitar, dobro and harmonica on Breaking Radio Silence truly raises the bar for rock music in America and makes this band of Brits stand out. It’s a myriad of traditional sounds played with refreshing style; a must hear for fans of Counting Crows, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan and Tom Petty. Jump on board the freight train and rock..
2012Candy Say's: It's the fact they are from Manchester, England and not New Jersey that grabbed my attention first, thankfully the music delivers and this is no hype thing. Last time I was in Manchester it rained so at least the weather is in the right place (you need to live in Britain to fully get that).
Featured Track: Pale Blue River (mp3). Web: Official HERE.
Robbie Miller - Road.
Naropa - If Only While I'm Sleeping. 
