Tag: folk

Kindlewood

I don’t know where Kindlewood came from (I mean, physically, they come from the DC area, I’m just surprised I’d never heard them!), but a friendly contact passed them along and I’m impressed. Their debut EP, I Don’t Believe in Ghosts, was released in November 2010, and they’re currently finishing up their first full-length, Desiderium, which… Continue reading Kindlewood

Nijae Draine

Nijae Draine, singer/songwriter of the indie pop band Crash Collect, recently recorded and released a solo acoustic EP, Spring Cleaning, with six songs all less than 2:30 each. What results is a quick view into a fragile, honest collection of emotions. (It’s also nice that Nina Simone, a similarly soulful artist, comes right after Draine… Continue reading Nijae Draine

Hilary Grist

We’ve been throwing enough experimental sounds your way lately. It’s time to step back into the singer/songwriter realm with a new female vocalist hot on the scene. Hilary Grist, out of British Columbia, brings the goods on her newest record, Imaginings. Grist leans heavily on her piano underneath a sultry, soothing voice for the flirtatious… Continue reading Hilary Grist

Akron/Family’s S/T II: The Cosmic Birth and Journey of Shinju TNT is a soundtrack to its own film

I haven’t had this much fun with a record in a long time. Akron/Family take experimental folk to the next level (which is actually the more accessible level) on S/T II: The Cosmic Birth and Journey of Shinju TNT. I would say it could soundtrack a film, and Where The Wild Things Are cliché-edly comes to… Continue reading Akron/Family’s S/T II: The Cosmic Birth and Journey of Shinju TNT is a soundtrack to its own film

Lia Ices casts her spell on Grown Unknown

I hadn’t heard much of Lia Ices, if anything at all, until I heard “Grown Unknown,” the teaser track off her similarly-titled album. Immediately captivated by the simple combination of Ices’ echoing vocals and sparse instruments, including my favorite – hand claps, I began to wonder: were we getting another Glasser here? It seemed so… Continue reading Lia Ices casts her spell on Grown Unknown

The Peasant Dramatic

The Peasant Dramatic is one of those folk pop collectives we seem to love around here. Nine members, trombone, cello – the works. They live in Vermont, saying they’re “stuffed like a mute in a bell into the northeastern tip of the American States.” Hey, come on, Vermont’s got a lot going for it! Skiing!… Continue reading The Peasant Dramatic

[MP3] The Western States Motel: “Country and Western Song”

The Western States Motel provide an eclectic mix of sound in their music, with a sort of alt-folk synth style. It’s different, aesthetically, but it has a familiar appeal. The vocals are very much reminiscent of acts like the Eels, or even Wilco. “Country and Western Song” has a steady rhythm, and even though it… Continue reading [MP3] The Western States Motel: “Country and Western Song”

Summer Fiction

So, funny story. Well, sort of. I was stalking Twitter, as usual (what the hell else do you do on Twitter?), when I see our good buddy Dave Rawkblog absolutely GUSHING about this random band, Summer Fiction. With the respect I have for Dave’s music taste (and more-than-occasional distaste – if you read his site… Continue reading Summer Fiction

Arrica Rose & the …’s are back

Arrica Rose, the wonderful woman who brought us I Heart and the first, um, Arrica Rose material, is back with a new album, titled Antebellum. The EP was released November 15 (last week) and features three intense tracks. It’s comfort music as winter descends upon us. On Antebellum, Rose expertly pins her fragile voice against… Continue reading Arrica Rose & the …’s are back