Tuesday, September 6, 2011

The Unknown and Unheard Show 246!



Frightened Rabbit – Scottish Winds - A Frightened Rabbit EP (2011)
-          This is a tour-only EP for their current run with Death Cab For Cutie.
-          This is one of their greatest tracks, in my opinion. Why hide it away on a tour-only release?
-          4 albums out.
-          Midnight Organ Fight is their best to date.
-          Scottish accent stands out, but there seems to be something more than that to his vocals and make them truly unique.


We Are Augustines - Augsutine - Rise Ye Sunken Ships (2011)
-          Debut full length.
-          Consists of two remaining members of the band Pela, Billy McCarthy & Eric Sanderson.
-          Pela disbanded after McCarthy’s brother committed suicide.


Seasick Steve - What A Way To Go - You Can't Teach an Old Dog New Tricks (2011)
-          5th album.
-          Has been huge in the UK ever since his 2nd album.
-          Slower style of blues than what he grabbed me with initially.


Wooden Wand and the Briarwood Virgins - Motel Stationary - Wooden Wand and the Briarwood Virgins (2011)
-          Latest single from this James Jackson Toth project's forthcoming album
-          Also released music as WAND after his band left him.
-          He conducted a pretty awesome fundraiser for this album. Check it out here!


Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks – Fall Away – Mirror Traffic (2011)
-          5th album with the Jicks.
-          Leader of Pavement, one of the pioneering bands of independent music.
-          His fourth album, Real Emotional Trash is one of the best albums of the 2000's


Sic Alps - Breadhead - Breadhead 7" (2011)
-          Latest single from a a band that's not shy about releasing vinyl singles.
-          4th album out back in January
-          San Fran garage/noise pop band led by Mike Donovan.


Young Circles - Triangles - Jungle Habits (2011)
-          Debut full length. Also 1 EP out.
-          Extremely interesting blend of styles. Freak folk, harder alt-rock, electronic and beat driven.
-          I think they are at their best on heavier, more aggressive tracks like this.


Amazing Baby - Pump Yr Brakes - Rewild (2009)
-          This is the debut single from their debut album.
-          2nd album, Ice Water, is due out this year.
-          Band of one of Ill Fits' members. Ill Fits = Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson's new act.


Tiger Waves - Funeral March - Only Good Bands Have Animal Names (2011)
-          Debut album
-          A band that got its start as the two main members corresponded from Austin, TX and Chicago, IL and emailed each other parts of songs and created their sound.
-          Bigger fuzzier rock sounds here. The album also features a lot of lightly acoustic guitar-led songs.


Portugal, the Man - Senseless - In The Mountain, In The Cloud (2011)
-          7th full length. As the go on their music seems to be gradually less manic and erratic.
-          ‘Church Mouth’ is my favorite album.
-          RIYL The Raconteurs/Jack White/Brendan Benson


Mister Heavenly - Hold My Hand - Out of Love (2011)
-          Full length debut.
-          the latest in what's becoming a long line of big indie names collaborating.
-          Features Nick Thorburn (Islands/The Unicorns), Ryan Kattner (Man Man), and Joe Plummer (Modest Mouse).
-          This track is included on an incredible free Sub Pop Records sampler.


The Limp Twins - Living Well Parts One and Two - The Deadly 7" Sins (2011)
-          Debut single
-          Latest band from Will Holland. Also known as Quantic.


KhanWood Clarke - Apache Lover (Demo) (2011)
-          Newest project from King Khan!
-          One of my all-time favorite musicians teaming up with a couple other folks for this traditional country band.
-          Think Johnnie Cash.


Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. – Higher Love (Steve Winwood) (Live) (2011)
-          debut full length.
-          Their 2010 debut EP garnered them a lot of good reviews.
-          Played the White Rabbit Cabaret and were fantastic!
-          Check out the Video!


James Vincent McMorrow - Higher Love (Steve Winwood) (2011)
-          Debut full length was out earlier this year.
-          This guy's music could pass as Bon Iver's
-          He seems to make no bones about his affinity for Justin Vernon… he even titles some of his songs like those of Vernon.
-          Good thing I love that sound!
-          Played SXSW, but I wasn't able to catch him.



Thursday, September 1, 2011

The Unknown & Unheard Show 245!!!
















Ryan Adams – Lucky Now - Ashes and Fire (2011)
-          Forthcoming album.
-          This is one of my all-time favorite artists and this is the first  song I've really enjoyed in a while. Hopes are high that he'll back off the big label polish.

















We Are Augustines - Book of James - Rise Ye Sunken Ships (2011)
-          Debut full length.
-          Consists of two remaining members of the band Pela, Billy McCarthy & Eric Sanderson.
-          Pela disbanded after McCarthy’s brother committed suicide.

















The Hold Steady – Stevie Nix - Separation Sunday (200)
-          2nd album.
-          Big ass, borderline-punk, rocking anthems that will get you moving.
-          Possibly my top all-time live show.
















Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks – Forever 28 – Mirror Traffic (2011)
-          5th album with the Jicks.
-          Leader of Pavement, one of the pioneering bands of independent music.
-          His fourth album, Real Emotional Trash is one of the best albums of the 2000's

















Halloween, Alaska - Empire Waist - All Night the Calls Came In (2011)
-          3rd album
-          Indie rock along the lines of Pavement

















Donkeys - Don't Know Who We Are - Born With Stripes (2011)
-          3rd full length.
-          Super catchy rolling track.
-          Makes me think of These United States.
-          Download a bunch of this music for free from their site!

















The Duke and the King - Shine On You - Long Live the Duke and the King (2011)
-          3rd Album… kind of. This one is a US release that pulls from their two previously released import-only albums.
-          Mellow, easy folk on this track that makes me think a lot of some of T. Rex's softer acoustic stuff. Even something slightly fuzzy from Neil Young/Buffalo Springfield or Ben Harper

















Wilco – A Shot In the Arm - Summerteeth (1999)
-          3rd album. 8th on its way in September.
-          Playing the Murat Theatre Sept 16th!
-          Led by Jeff Tweedy after he split with Jay Farrar his Uncle Tupelo (one of the ultimate alt-country pioneer bands) partner.

















Blitzen Trapper – Might Find It Cheap - American Goldwing (2011)
-          6th album
-          indie folk/rock
-          Great example of their folk leaning rolling rock.
-          Wild Mountain Nation is their best album to date.

















St. Vincent - Cruel - Strange Mercy (2011)
-          2nd full length. Debut was out in 2009, Actor.
-          Was a member of Sufjan Steven's backing band along with My Brightest Diamond, arguably two of the biggest breakout female artists of the past couple years.

















Young Circles - Jungle Habits - Jungle Habits (2011)
-          Debut full length. Also 1 EP out.
-          Extremely interesting blend of styles. Freak folk, harder alt-rock, electronic and beat driven.
-          I think they are at their best on heavier, more aggressive tracks like this.
















The Stone Foxes - Serious People - Psycho 7" (2011)
-          Latest single.
-          2 full lengths out also. One in 2008 and one in 2010.

















Matt Duncan - Summer Song – Summer Song (single) (2011)
-          Stand alone single. One full length out as well, Beacon.
-          Kentucky songwriter.
-          Vintage 50’s and 60’s doo-wop sound.
-          Download this track for free at his BandCamp.

















Team Me - Me and the Mountain - Team Me EP (2011)
-          Debut EP warming the waters for their forthcoming full length debut.
-          Norwegian indie power pop that makes me think of the Antlers and the Kissaway Trail.

















Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson – Buriedfed – Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson (2008)
-          Debut album
-          TV on the Radio’s Kyp Malone and Grizzly Bear’s Christopher Bear continue to lend a hand to his work
-          His 2nd album was out in 2009, Sound of Fear.
-          Had a very hard life prior to these releases.













Ill Fits – Blood and Devotion (2011)
-          Brand new band led by U & U favorite Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson.
-          Also features members of MGMT, Amazing Baby and Foreign Islands
-          AND they’re apparently friends with Suckers! Can’t get much more cred than that background to start with.
-          Sounds more like Bowie that anything. Actually reminds me of Suckers, too.