Frontier Ruckus :: The Orion Songbook
Frontier Ruckus is one of my recent indie-folk discoveries this Summer. If forced to make a comparison, I'd lean towards a minimalist Horse Feathers with half the orchestration. The band has already released 3 albums and at least one EP to date, but first things first, I'd like to share a song from their earliest album The Orion Songbook. "Dark Autumn Hour" is a slow swaying, folk ditty with a plunky banjo and soft harmony.
MP3:
Ah Holly Fam'ly :: Reservoir
Official | Myspace
Married duo, Becky Dawson and Jeremy Faulkner, lead the chorus of cascading harmony that has become a defining characteristic of Ah Holly Fam'ly. Several years ago, the Fam'ly uprooted their homes in rural idaho to explore their musical potential in Portland, Oregon, a region known for it's thriving alternative music scene. Since making the move, the band has released two LPs and signed with local independent label, Lucky Madison Records.
If read several spot on descriptions of this band, yet "Leonard Cohen with a band of clowns" is their personal favorite. Multi-part harmony and creative vocal depth are among their strongest qualities, and therefore I lean more towards the burgeoning chamber-pop genre, but that's just me.
Ben Sollee :: Ditch the Van Tour 2010
On August 18th, equipped with only his bicycle, cello, and bare essentials, Ben Sollee embarked on yet another pedal powered regional tour. The 25 performances on Ditch the Van Tour 2010 not only serve to promote Sollee's music, but also biking as a viable form of transportation. After last year's eight-performance, on-the-way to Bonnoroo bike tour, Sollee decided to spend a portion of his touring each year on a bicycle.
While many may think this is a ridiculous way to tour the country, Sollee couldn't disagree more, believing that convention air, bus, or van tours move a pace that is completely unnatural. Some artists may try to hop from plane to plane to squeeze a few extra performances into a busy tour, and all the while, Ben Sollee is cruising at a comfortable 13 mph, rolling up and down the hills from town to town, feeling teh burn and satisfaction of pedal-powered transportation. That's not to say this is an easy task. Reportedly, the load he straps on weighs roughly 60 pounds plus the weight of the bike, and despite the extra work load of a bicycle tour, Sollee loves it.
Regardless of your position on environmental politics, you have to admit the concept of touring via bicycle is badass. I really can't think of a better way to slow down the life of a touring artist than to hit the road on bike.
Ben Sollee @ Bonnaroo 2009 from Palestra Creative
Kurt Vile :: God Is Saying This To You?
Kurt Vile is a guitarist and singer from Philadelphia. He leads in the band The War On Drugs and also has a burgeoning solo career under his own name. Over the last couple years, Vile has pumped out a lot of great music, and I'd like to introduce an album which may have been overlooked by those more interested in his rock album Childish Prodigy. Though not strictly a folk album, God Is Saying This To You? showcases a cleaner, more personal side of Kurt Vile. He has a unique way of sounding incredibly likable without becoming overly catchy or just another singer-songwriter. The lo-fi production, recorded mostly in his own home, also helps create the aesthetic in which a DIY folk musician can thrive. The words are half mumbled and hardly more audible than a soft hum or whisper, and yet despite all these seemingly annoying qualities (i.e Iron and Wine), Kurt Vile has a brialliant way of making himself sound like an amiable genius rather than a soft spoken downer. Enjoy this record please.
MP3:
My Sympathy
Mountain Man :: Made the Harbor
Contrary to their name, Mountain Man is a folk trio built around a trio of women with soft and beautiful voices. Their first release, Made the Harbor fits nicely into the recent trends of indie musicians taking influence from minimalist appalachian folk music. Mountain man captures the natural, nature-like qualities of the old time music and adds more vocal interest than the mountain people could have dreamed of. Just skimming through the tracks and it becomes obvious of their desire to pull elements of nature into song. "White Heron" "Buffalo" "Animal Tracks" "River" and "Honeybee" are only a few of the titles on Made the Harbor.
Christopher McFetridge :: Simple.
A native from my hometown of Dallas, Oregon, Christopher McFetridge released the music video for the title track off his new record Simple. Directed by Carson Hughes and featuring actress Alana Roby. The overall production is minimal and sincere, which I found quite fitting to both this particular song and Christopher's genuinely modest artistic style.
Pick up his record Simple. direct from his myspace.
Lemons or Peaches?
How do you like the new look? It very unsatisfying to know something so simple took so much time. It also looks funny in the corner above the description because I don't have any other links to include. I wish i could put a search bar there but oh well.... I also want to make a better description box, i just placed that to secure the location.... where you at baby? i said i'd be asleep by now. There are still some tings of taney that i need to figure out!!!
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