This atmospheric pop-rock title track from Second Dan’s sophomore album Angeline has some pretty sprawling piano work in the second half…
Second Dan – Angeline (mp3)*
*mp3 provided by & posted w/ permission of band
Words like catchy, infectious, and upbeat are admittedly far too often applied to pop music, but there’s really no other way to describe this little summery gem by singer-songwriter and ukulele player Lindsey Ray. “Brand New Day” is a duet with One Republic’s Tim Myers and is on Lindsey’s debut full-length album Goodbye From California.
Lindsey Ray – Brand New Day (mp3)*
Lindsey Ray Official Site
Lindsey Ray MySpace
*mp3 hosted by & posted w/ permission of artist’s PR rep
Our Husband – Villages (mp3)*
Haunting, low-fi single from Australian pop band Our Husband’s forthcoming album. Our Husband are Nathaniel Morse of Fire! Santa Rosa, Fire! and Freya of Bing Goes to Monaco.
Buy @ Amazon
*mp3 provided by & posted w/ permission of band
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Juliette Commagere – Impact (mp3)*
Pretty, upbeat tune from former Hello Stranger singer Juliette Commagere’s new solo album The Procession, to be released September 20th.
*mp3 hosted by & posted w/ permission of artist’s PR rep
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Liam Singer – Winter Weeds (mp3)*
Delicate, lovely ballad by “chamber-pop experimentalist” Liam Singer’s new album Dislocatia, to be released October 5th.
*mp3 hosted by & posted w/ permission of label
Cold Seeds – The Perfume of Mexican Birds (mp3)*
Quiet, pretty folk ballad reminiscent of Kath Bloom‘s work with Loren Mazzacane Connors. Cold Seeds is a one-off collaboration between Meursault‘s Neil Pennycook and Pete Harvey, Kenny Anderson (a.k.a. King Creosote), and Frances Donnelly from Animal Magic Tricks. The album will be released on Song, By Toad Records on September 20th.
*mp3 hosted by & posted w/ permission of label
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The Vaccines – If You Wanna (mp3)
Retro rock-influenced demo by UK band The Vaccines. That’s all the info I was given for now, stay tuned.
*mp3 provided by & posted w/ permission of band’s PR rep
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You can download the quirky pop song “Cold Love” by former Cursive and The Good Life lead Tim Kasher by entering your email address in the widget above. His debut solo album The Game of Monogamy will be released by Saddle Creek Records on October 5th.
Jenny & Johnny – Scissor Runner (mp3 download page)
Have I been living in a cave? Don’t answer that. I didn’t even know that Jenny Lewis and Johnathan Rice had teamed up for an album until they were recently booked for an upcoming Mountain Stage show. Judging from this summery pop song, Jenny & Johnny are trying to be the new She & Him. You can download this mp3 from their new album I’m Having Fun Now, which will be released August 31st, by submitting your email address at the above link.
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Yair Yona – Brave Walls (mp3)*
Exotic and lovely instrumental from Israeli guitarist Yair Yona’s debut album Remember. If you like this song, you’ll love the album.
*mp3 hosted by & posted w/ permission of band’s PR rep
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Libbie Schrader – Turn to Gold (mp3 download page)
You can download a pretty new song by Libbie Schrader by entering your email address at the above link. “Turn to Gold” is a demo that may or may not be included on Libbie’s upcoming fan-funded EP.
Muruch‘s occasional Chicago reviewer Chelle caught the attention of Mutts with her recent Empires/The Whigs review and Mutts lead Mike Maimone submitted the band’s We Float EP for her consideration. Following is her take on the EP….
Chicago-based trio Mutts are just over a year old, and much like the hodgepodge suggested by their moniker, members Mike Maimone (keys, vocals), Chris Faller (drums), and Bob Buckstaff (bass) punch in off the clock from more pedigreed projects (Company of Thieves, The Hush Sound). And like a zealous, unruly year-old puppy, their EP We Float runs the rambunctious gamut of influences, spanning jazz, blues, grunge, metal, industrial and rock, never quite deciding which one to take by the throat and throttle.
Considering the juxtaposed jumble of components, however, Mutts’ combined output is a cohesive sound; it’s evident they’ve done the work of deciding what they want to do, and forging ahead with it confidently. If you possess any manufactured pop sensibilities, delicate or otherwise, you may not immediately find too much to latch on to amidst the stripped down production and frenetic, raw vocal stylings. But there’s a brutal honesty buried in the roughness, and the moments where the melodies begin to surface and take hold add just enough suggestion of shine to keep you listening.
Mutts have a forthcoming release, The Tells of Parallels EP, available on October 1st. They will also be playing at legendary Chicago venue Schuba’s on Monday, August 30 at 8:00PM as part of the Betta Promotions Showcase. The show is $6, 18+ and tickets are available here. Also appearing are DJ Caural, The Sacred Robe of the Ancient Psychedelic Monks, Scott Lucas & The Married Men, and Volcanoes Make Islands.
Mutts – Beggar (mp3)*
Mutts – We Float (mp3)*
All Mutts music, including We Float and their previous Pretty Pictures EP, is available as free downloads on their website. You can also purchase them on CD at the band’s shows or Amazon…
*mp3s provided by & posted w/ permission of band
As I said last week when I posted an mp3 of “The Great Defector” (which you can still download for a limited time), Irish band Bell X1 is offering a series of tracks from a new digital Acoustic EP (streaming at Reverb Nation) in anticipation of their upcoming acoustic tour of the U.S. Below is the second in this series of free mp3s – a live rendition of “Rocky Took a Lover” from their 2005 album Flock. The live shows will include songs from the band’s entire catalogue and some new tunes from their forthcoming 2011 full-length album.
Bell X1 – Rocky Took a Lover (live) (mp3)*
*mp3 provided by & posted w/ permission of Yep Roc Records
Bell X1 2010 Acoustic Tour Dates:
10/6 Philadelphia, PA@ Tin Angel
10/7 New York, NY @ Le Poisson Rouge
10/8 Cambridge, MA @ Brattle Theater
10/9 Northampton, MA @ Iron Horse Music Hall
10/11 Ann Arbor, MI @ The Ark
10/12 Toronto, ON @ The Drake Hotel
10/14 Chicago, IL @ Schuba’s
10/15 Louisville, KY @ Zanzabar
10/16 Pittsburgh, PA @ Club Café
10/17 Vienna, VA @ Jammin’ Java
10/20 Los Angeles, CA @Hotel Café
10/21 San Francisco, CA @ Swedish American Hall
For her first guest post on Muruch, Starlite Diner‘s Laura joined the crowd entertained by Rasputina at The Troubadour in L.A. on August 14th. Following is her take on the show and an mp3 from the band’s new album…
The Troubadour has stories. In the walls, when you lean in too close, you can hear and feel the echoes of music and musicians. This is the place of music history, the Los Angeles edition, and one cannot help but expect something spectacular when you enter through its doors. On August 14th, in the audience watching Rasputina, that is exactly what happened – something spectacular.
Rasputina, part kinder-whore a’la 1990s, part gothic mistress, part Renaissance queen, and part Steam Punk warrior, is an experience that slithers into you, opening up something raw in you, and taking with it a bit of your soul.
I felt lost at times, not in a bad way, but definitely away from everything around me. The heartbeat thump of the drums, especially throughout songs such as “Sweet Sister Temperance” and “Saline The Salt Lake Queen,” were hypnotic – a musical temptation luring me into the ether.
“High On Life” channeled the musical souls of Jim Morrison, Billie Holiday and Janis Joplin – rock and roll meets the blues gone post-modern mystery. I swear, if I squinted my eyes and looked towards my right, I saw the three of them swaying along and passing a bottle between them.
My favorites of the night were the heartfelt “Holocaust of Giants,” off of the newly released album Sister Kinderhook, and the cover of “Teenage Kicks,” the 1978 hit song by The Undertones.
Though the music was truly the best part of the evening, playing second (and adding to those stories in the wall, I’m sure) were the commentary and asides spoken by frontwoman and musician, Melora Creager.
Rasputina – Holocaust of Giants (mp3)*
*mp3 hosted by band & posted w/ permission of their PR rep
A Classic Education – Gone to Sea (mp3)*
Languid, retro-pop influenced indie-rock somewhere between The Lucksmiths and The Shins. From Italian-Canadian band A Classic Education’s upcoming Hey There Stranger EP, to be released September 21st.
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The Fumes – Automobile (mp3)*
Gritty pop-rock with a hint of blues from The Fumes’ new album Guns Of Gold, to be released August 24th.
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American Graveyard – Common Ones (mp3)*
Substantial, soulful roots rock from American Graveyard’s new Hallelujahland album.
*all mp3s hosted by & posted w/ permission of bands’ PR reps
In anticipation of their upcoming acoustic tour of the U.S., Irish band Bell X1 is offering a series of tracks from a new digital Acoustic EP (which you can hear at Reverb Nation). The first mp3 is a live, acoustic rendition of “The Great Defector” from their Blue Lights on the Runway album. You can download the mp3 and check out their tour dates below. The live shows will include songs from the band’s entire catalogue and some new tunes from their forthcoming 2011 full-length album.
Bell X1 – The Great Defector (live)(mp3)*
*mp3 provided by & posted w/ permission of Yep Roc Records
Bell X1 2010 Acoustic Tour Dates:
10/6 Philadelphia, PA@ Tin Angel
10/7 New York, NY @ Le Poisson Rouge
10/8 Cambridge, MA @ Brattle Theater
10/9 Northampton, MA @ Iron Horse Music Hall
10/11 Ann Arbor, MI @ The Ark
10/12 Toronto, ON @ The Drake Hotel
10/14 Chicago, IL @ Schuba’s
10/15 Louisville, KY @ Zanzabar
10/16 Pittsburgh, PA @ Club Café
10/17 Vienna, VA @ Jammin’ Java
10/20 Los Angeles, CA @Hotel Café
10/21 San Francisco, CA @ Swedish American Hall
Muruch husband and wife duo Brendan and Vic were among those enamoured with the new Leonard DiCaprio film Inception. Director Christoper Nolan’s trippy intellectual dreamscape successfully combines the sci-fi plots and astounding effects of movies like The Matrix with a noirish mystery and settings seemingly ripped from the work of M.C. Escher. Being the movie soundtrack and Hans Zimmer expert of the house, Brendan took on the review of Zimmer’s score for the Inception soundtrack. You can read his thoughts on the album below…
I’ve enjoyed the music of Hans Zimmer since 1993’s True Romance
On to Zimmer’s latest release, Inception. I listened to it walking through the streets of my town as the sky darkened and the wind grew and thunder crashed. The Inception score was a perfect soundscape – when I heard a snatch of a particular song central to the movie, I felt a strong urge to wake up.
Inception is moody and brooding, somewhat similar to Zimmer’s work on other recent Christopher Nolan collaborations, but intensified by the guitar playing of former Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr.
The final track, “Time,” is representative of this score – an emotional triumph that builds and builds until you feel the love and loss of the character it represents, then fades with a bittersweet solo piano.
Inception is a heady mix of electronics, orchestra and guitar, and surely will be a forerunner for best score when Oscar season arrives.
I was not granted permission to share an mp3, but you can listen to an interview with Hans Zimmer at WV Public Radio and hear samples from the album at the links below…
John Mellencamp’s new album No Better Than This will be released August 17th on Rounder Records. Mellencamp wrote the album’s thirteen tracks in just thirteen days. Teaming up once again with producer T Bone Burnett (who also produced 2009′s brilliant Life Death Love and Freedom), Mellencamp used only one microphone and other vintage equipment to record the new songs at various historic Southern locations – including legendary Sun Studios. The result is an organic, lo-fi blend of blues, folk, country and rock.
“The West End” is the standout track with Mellencamp growling over a mix of simmering blues guitar and country clang.
“Right Behind Me” is another favorite with its swaggering Tin Pan Alley fiddle and strum.
And “A Graceful Fall” is a classic country barroom number worthy of ole Bad Blake – no surprise since producer T Bone Burnett also wrote the music for Crazy Heart.
If your perception of John Mellencamp’s music has been shaped by his commercial hits in the past, you need to hear the 21st century Mellencamp – particularly if you’re a fan of T Bone Burnett’s. Life Death Love and Freedom and No Better Than This are by far John Mellencamp’s finest albums.
Buy @ Amazon
(not yet available)
Our wonderful Mid-West photographer Jen “Coble” Hopper was very excited about reviewing Company of Thieves’ pre-Lollapalooza concert at Chicago’s House of Blues on August 5th. Despite unwarranted interference from the venue’s notoriously aggressive security, Coble managed to get some great shots of the band’s performance and you can read her thoughts about the show below…
Thursday’s Lollapalooza pre-show for Company of Thieves was welcomed by a loud and enthusiastic crowd.
Lead singer Genevieve Schatz brought fantastic energy to the performance. Wailing on the mic as she pounded the tambourine, her big and throaty and still comforting voice paired with dynamic storytelling style made the music come alive. In interviews, Genevieve seems quiet and kind, so it’s a wonderful dichotomy to see her personality unleashed under the stage lights.
The band played old favorites from their first album Ordinary Riches, and we were also treated to a couple of tunes from their upcoming album. The new direction feels similar and yet more honed, as they continue to write songs well suited to Genevieve’s unique voice and maintain their smart and clever lyrics.
The last time I saw Company of Thieves was just last fall when they opened for fellow Chicago natives, Empires. At the time, I was quite impressed – they seemed much more seasoned than an opening band! Still, they continue to improve. They now seem quite solidly together and Genevieve easily makes herself at home on stage.
Company of Thieves music is always upbeat and their live performances are very rewarding – more vivid than the already captivating album versions. The band seemed very humbled to be playing Lollapalooza, and with good reason – their popularity has skyrocketed in the last year, even resulting in an appearance with Daryl Hall on “Live From Daryl’s House”. They’re wearing it all quite well and no doubt can expect continued support from their fans who anxiously await the new album.
You can hear my voice in the new edition of Contrast Podcast, which has the theme “Best of 2010 (So Far).” My pick was Anaïs Mitchell’s Hadestown album (click title for my review) and I submitted the 100% legal, label-authorized mp3 “Flowers (Eurydice Song).” Hadestown will almost certainly still be my #1 album of 2010 at the end of the year.
Contrast Podcast – Best of 2010 (So Far)
Anaïs Mitchell – Flowers (Eurydice Song) (mp3) *
*mp3 hosted by & posted w/ permission of artist’s PR rep on behalf of label
Heart returns on August 31st with Red Velvet Car, their first new studio album in six years. If you’ve never heard Heart’s music or you’ve written them off as an ’80s novelty act, I urge you to track down classic songs like “Barracuda,” “Crazy on You,” “Alone,” “(Up On) Cherry Blossom Road,” and pretty much the entire Dreamboat Annie
This time around Heart took a step back from the pop-rock endeavors of recent decades in favor of a multi-instrumental style. In addition to her signature guitar, Nancy Wilson and producer Ben Mink tried their hands at mandolin, dobro, banjo, fiddle, viola, cello and autoharp. The result is a tightly woven tapestry of hard rock riffs and multi-layered acoustics reminiscent of Heart’s 1970s catalogue.
Written as a “cautionary tale for a young woman on the red carpet,”, the opener “There You Go” makes fine use of the band’s new multi-instrumental arsenal with a bluesy rumble and stomp.
“WTF” could use a better title, but otherwise the thunderous rock song is a perfect display of Ann’s astounding vocal power and Nancy’s searing guitar riffs. Then the title track stirs, slides, and retracts like a slinky Western sidewinder tempered with airy strings and acoustics.
The standout track “Wheels” simmers with a chasmic bass line and Ann’s deep, echoing voice. Twenty years in the making, the song was well worth the wait.
When I read in the press release that producer Mink (who worked with Ann Wilson on her solo album Hope & Glory) asked Ann to “hold back” on her vocals, I was a little worried. Ann’s unearthly howl has always been Heart’s greatest strength. I would have liked to hear her wail a bit more on the new album, but overall I think the restraint worked well for this particular collection. Though I do hope the next release sets her mighty pipes loose again.
Nancy takes lead vocal on the pretty love song “Hey You” and again on the sultry ballad “Sunflower.” I was surprised to learn that Nancy wrote the latter as an ode to her sister since it sounds like a summer of love anthem.
Most bands place their weakest tracks at the end of their albums, but Heart saves one of their best for the finale. “Sand” was originally recorded by the Wilson sisters as their late ’90s acoustic incarnation The Lovemongers. The layering of Ann’s robust vocals over a stripped down acoustic arrangement in this new version hints at Led Zeppelin’s “Going To California.” The Lovemongers’ cover of Zep’s “The Battle of Evermore” and Ann’s solo take on “Immigrant Song” have obviously had a positive influence on Heart’s own compositions.
The album isn’t without its flaws, but they are few and far between. Red Velvet Car is Heart’s most substantial and artistic effort since Dreamboat Annie
I was not granted permission to share an mp3, but you can hear samples at the links below.
Note: According to Heart’s official site, you can receive $1 off your Amazon Pre-order by entering promo code REDCAR10.
(not yet available)
West Virginian singer-songwriter Jeff Ellis has returned home from his second US Army tour of duty in Iraq. I’m happy to have the opportunity to give away 1 copy of his magnificent CD The Forgetting Place (click the album title to read my rave review). Jeff will also be performing live at several local venues. Tour dates and giveaway details are below…
The Prize:
1 copy of Jeff Ellis’ new CD The Forgetting Place
The Rules:
Comment to this entry with your email address and the name of your favorite local artist (or just your favorite artist if you don’t like anyone in your locality). All new comments are moderated to avoid spam (which is why you must include the required text in your comment), so it may take a day for your comment to appear if you haven’t commented on Muruch before.
Note: This contest is open to everyone, but all contestants must enter with a valid email address and the name of an artist in order to qualify. The winner of the contest will also be required to provide me with their full name, phone number and postal address for shipping purposes.
The Deadline:
The contest will end on Friday, August 27th. The winner will be chosen at random and contacted via email.
Go now go! And tell others.
Jeff Ellis Tour Dates:
Aug 6 – Harley Davidson Store – Huntington, WV
Aug 13 – Live On The Levee – Charleston, WV
Aug 14 – V Club – Huntington, WV
Aug 26 – Pullman Sq. Summer Series – Huntington, WV
Sept 4 – Chief Logan State Park Amphitheater – Logan, WV
Sept 15 – Borders Bookstore (850 Grand Central Mall) – Vienna, WV
Sept 16 – Jackie O’s – Athens, OH
Sept 17 – Borders Bookstore (120 Huntington Mall) – Barboursville, WV
Sept 18 – Fairplain Yacht Club – Ripley, WV
Sept 19 – Borders Bookstore (9459 Colerian Ave) – Cincinnati, OH
Sept 20 – Borders Bookstore (4530 Eastgate Blvd) – Cincinnati, OH
Sept 21 – Borders Bookstore (2700 Miamisburg Centerville Rd) – Dayton, OH
Sept 23 – Borders Bookstore (6670 Sawmill Rd) – Columbus, OH
Sept 24 – The Boulevard Tavern – Charleston, WV
Sept 25 – 123 Pleasant – Morgantown, WV
Oct 2 – Huntington Music & Arts Fest – Huntington, WV
Oct 14 – The Purple Fiddle – Thomas, WV
Oct 15 – Jabberwock – Elkins, WV
Oct 16 – Court Street Grill – Pomeroy, OH
Oct 29 – Empty Glass – Charleston, WV
Oct 30 – Shamrocks – Huntington, WV
Lisa Germano – Reptile (mp3 removed)*
Singer-songwriter Lisa Germano contributed this song to the two-disc OxFam charity album The Sun Came Out, a project led by Neil Finn that also featured members of Radiohead, The Smiths, and Wilco.
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Kathryn Calder – Arrow (mp3)*
Another lovely song from Kathryn Calder‘s debut solo album Are You My Mother?, to be released August 10th. Calder was formerly in The New Pornographers and her album will feature guests Neko Case and members of Ladyhawk and Frog Eyes.
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If the name Azure Ray isn’t familiar to you, that’s the marvelous band that spawned singer-songwriters Orenda Fink (most recently of O+S & Art in Manila) and Maria Taylor. The duo has reunited for their fifth album Drawing Down the Moon, which will be released September 14th. You can download a free, legal mp3 from the new album by entering your email address in the above widget.
Singer-songwriter Stacy Clark’s new album Connect The Dots will be released by Vanguard Records on August 10th. The label is kindly sharing a free, legal mp3 from the album. “Don’t Take What’s Mine” is a catchy, perfect for summer pop song.
Stacy Clark – Don’t Take What’s Mine (mp3 removed)*
*mp3 provided by & posted w/ permission of label
The Mountains & The Trees is the astonishingly talented singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Jon Janes. His debut full-length album I Made This For You will be released on August 10th. Janes has a quiet but captivating voice, and he and his bandmates play just about every instrument imaginable – guitar, drums, banjo, mandolin, ukulele, bells, tuba, trumpet, organ, lapsteel, melodica, mellotron, violin, cello, flute, bodhrán, and even some handclaps. Janes skillfully incorporates all of these elements into beautifully, brilliantly arranged folk, country, and Americana melodies. I Made This For You is a multi-layered masterpiece that everyone needs to hear.
The opening track “Fear of Ghosts” slides from a gentle beginning into a jaunty, joyously multi-instrumental arrangement in which the tuba steals the show. Séan McCann of Great Big Sea plays bodhrán on the song.
“More & More & More” is a panoramic Americana travelogue, “Travellin’ Song” is a foot tappin’ country ditty, and “Makes Amends” is another wonderfully unusual standout.
Most of the rest of the album is delicate and lovely with subtle folk melodies and light bluegrass instrumentation.
The Mountains & The Trees – More & More & More (mp3)*
The Mountains & The Trees – Minimum Wage Lovers (mp3)*
(not yet available)
*mp3s hosted by & posted w/ permission of band’s PR rep
Katie Davis – Fisherman (mp3)*
Pretty, atmospheric song by independent singer-songwriter Katie Davis, from her second self-released EP Three Songs.
Buy @ Amazon
*mp3 hosted by & posted w/ permission of artist
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Kitka – Zabljalo mi e agunce (mp3)*
Another beautiful free download by vocal group Kitka, from their 2008 album Sanctuary.
*mp3 hosted by & posted w/ permission of band
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The Drums – Down By The Water (mp3)*
Languidly romantic, retro-influenced track from The Drums’ self-titled album, to be released September 14th.
*mp3 hosted by & posted w/ permission of band’s PR rep
Burnt Ones – Burnt To Lose (mp3)*
Fantastic, trippy retro-psychedelic number from Burnt Ones’ upcoming debut Black Teeth & Golden Tongues, to be released August 10th. The band is signed to Roaring Colonel Records, the new label by My Old Kentuckey Blog.
*mp3 hosted by & posted w/ permission of band’s PR rep
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Vincent Minor – Late Night Show (mp3)*
Pleasant, quirky boy pop from singer-songwriter Vincent Minor’s self-titled album, to be released September 21st.
*mp3 hosted by & posted w/ permission of artist’s PR rep
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Joey + Rory – This Song’s For You (click for download page) **
You can download a new song by Joey + Rory (featuring Zac Brown Band) by entering your email address at the above link on their official site. You may recall that another mp3 by the duo was the catalyst for my battle with Blogger two years ago (summarized on my About page), but neither the band or even their label were responsible for that. And they sure make some great, old-fashioned country music. Their sophmore album Album Number Two will be released September 14th.
Buy @ Amazon
**link to band’s site provided by & posted w/ permission of label
Pete Yorn is giving away a free mp3 download of the track “Precious Stone” from his upcoming self-titled album. Produced by Frank Black of The Pixies, the album will be released on September 28th. This catchy Americana-influenced rock song may be familiar territory for Yorn, but that doesn’t make it any less great.
Pete Yorn – Precious Stone (mp3 removed)*
*mp3 provided by & posted w/ permission of artist’s PR rep
The album is not yet available for purchase, but should be at the links below closer to the release date…
The following cover of Bo Diddley’s “I’m A Man” is a brilliant churn of noisy garage rock and blistering harmonica blues by L.A. band The Morlocks. The Morlock’s new album The Morlocks Play Chess features covers of twelve songs originally released by classic blues label Chess Records – home to such legends as Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Buddy Guy, Howlin’ Wolf, Etta James, John Lee Hooker, and Muddy Waters. The album will be released on August 24th.
The Morlocks – I’m A Man (mp3 removed)*
*mp3 provided by & posted w/ permission of band’s PR rep
You can also stream the entire album at the label’s site. I especially like their funky rendition of Chuck Berry’s “You Never Can Tell.”
The album is not yet available for purchase, but should be at the links below closer to the release date…
In case you missed it the first time around, Muruch is celebrating its 10th year of existence this month. Head over to the anniversary post to download free, 100% legal mp3s by Gaba Kulka, Hannah Fury, and Allison Crowe, and please leave a comment there with any memories you have of this site. The mp3s will be taken down next week, so grab ‘em while you can.
Ukranian singer Lana Mir will release her self-titled debut on August 24th. I would’ve liked the album anyway, but it was truly a breath of fresh air after hearing another atrocious promo (which shall remain nameless, but was described in its press release as “psychedelic folk and speed rapping”)! But I digress. Lana Mir has a smooth, warm voice and the music on her album is mostly airy, mellow acoustic pop with occasional hints of jazz and bossa nova. The centerpiece is a trippy cover of Stone Roses’ “I Wanna Be Adored.”
Lana Mir – I Wanna Be Adored (mp3 removed)*
*mp3 provided by & posted w/ permission of artist’s PR rep on behalf of label
My 2008 review of Lucy Schwartz’s debut Winter in June began with the line “I’m always puzzled when certain female singer-songwriters receive mainstream popularity and media attention while others like seventeen year old Lucy Schwartz remain in the shadows.” Now 20 years old, Lucy has since been heard in several tv shows and movies and her recent EP Help Me! Help Me! made the blogrounds. Her sophomore full-length album Life in Letters will be released on August 31st, and you can download a free mp3 of the non-album single “When We Were Young” by entering your email address in the widget below…
Life in Letters Track List:
My Darling
Graveyard
Rain City
I Want The Sky
Life in Letters
Those Days
Shadow Man
Gone Away
Somebody To Save
Take a Picture
Morning
The album is not yet available for pre-order, but should be at the links below closer to the release date…
Red Wanting Blue’s album These Magnificent Miles will be released on July 27th. Lead singer Scott Terry – who plays guitar and ukulele – has a gritty voice slightly reminiscent of Eddie Vedder, though the comparisons stop there. The songs on the album are rock with a little bit of Americana and a whole lot of substance. These Magnificent Miles also proves how valuable good cover art can be, as it was the bright orange and black carousel image that made the CD stand out in my mountains of promos.
Red Wanting Blue – Where You Wanna Go (mp3)*
*mp3 hosted by & posted w/ permission of band’s PR rep
!!! – AM/FM (click for download page)
!!! – a.k.a. chk chk chk – are back!!! (those exclamation points are addictive) Their new album Strange Weather, Isn’t It? will be released on August 24th. You can download an mp3 of the first single “AM/FM” at their official site in exchange for your email address.
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Little Cowboys, Bad Hombres (mp3) *
Funky pop-rock by Fire! Santa Rosa, Fire! (I hate all CAPS in band names, but obviously like exclamation points) – a.k.a. FSRF. From FSRF’s new album Sea Priest.
*mp3 hosted by label & posted w/ permission of PR rep
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Guster – Big Bad World (click for download page)
I used to think Guster’s music was boring, but this song is extremely catchy. They are also offering a free download on their official site, with several options to access the mp3 – including by submitting your email address or Twitter. Easy Wonderful, Guster’s first studio album in four years, will be released on October 5th.
Pre-order @ Amazon
I never thought of the harp as a versatile instrument until now. Even in classical music, the harp often seems to be used more for embellishment within an orchestra rather than as the focal point of an arrangement. Canadian harpist Valérie Milot showcases the hidden depths of this celestrial instrument on her exquisite new album Revelation. This lovely collection includes works by Dieudonné–Félix Godefroid, Henriette Renié, Carlos Salzedo, Maurice Ravel, and a work composed specifically for Valérie Milot by her former teacher, Caroline Lizotte. It is a serene and beautiful album.
I was not granted permission to share an mp3, but you can hear samples of each track at the links below…
You can download an mp3 of “Circles” by The Giving Tree Band by clicking on “Free Download” in the above widget and entering your email address. It’s worth the exchange. The band was recommended to me because I like Old Crow Medicine Show. Though The Giving Tree Band isn’t quite that good, they are very close. They have a similar oldfashioned bluegrass sound mixed with a bit of Americana and Paul Simon-like pop-folk melodies. Their third full-length album The Joke, The Threat & The Obvious will be released on September 21st.
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Minor Stars – The Death of the Sun (mp3)*
Minor Stars – Dead Weight (mp3)*
Minor Stars – Numbers Don’t Lie (mp3)*
Minor Stars – Mirror (mp3)*
I’d never heard of Minor Stars before their PR rep sent me these songs, but you have to like a band who shares so many free, legal mp3s. Especially one with such a refreshingly pure rock sound as this. These four tracks are from Minor Stars’ new album The Death of the Sun in the Silver Sea, which you can download as a “name your own price” purchase (including for free) at Bandcamp.
*mp3s hosted by band & posted w/ permission of PR rep
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Noun – Brother (mp3)*
Noun is Screaming Females‘ fierce and formidable frontwoman Marissa Paternoster, and she just released her solo project’s debut album Holy Hell. You can still download the album’s title track in my March post.
*mp3 hosted by & posted w/ permission of band’s PR rep
The Gypsy Nomads – Make Out (mp3)*
The Gypsy Nomads seem patterned after bands like Luminescent Orchestrii, 17 Hippies, and Vagabond Opera. Though their blend of Eastern European folk and rock isn’t quite as strong or eclectic as those other bands, it’s an enjoyable and interesting ride nonetheless.
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AWOLNATION – Burn It Down (mp3)*
This song might annoy me in a different mood, but I like it a lot today. AWOLNATION (dear bands: all CAPS names are annoying in any mood!) describe themselves as “Blitz Pop Rockers”. Basically they scream and grind their guitars over a catchy pop-rock melody. It’s the kind of music you head-bang to. From their new EP Back From Earth.
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Fops – Solid Copper Huntress (mp3)*
Wow, there are some really crap band names out there now. But this pretty, retro folk-rock song proves you can’t always judge a book (or a band) by its cover. Fops is led by Thee More Shallows singer Dee Kesler. Their debut album Yeth, Yeth, Yeth will be released sometime later this year.
Pre-order @ Amazon
*all mp3s hosted by & posted w/ permission of band’s PR reps
