Delta Spirit - Bushwick Blues

I am so excited for Delta Spirit's new album, History from Below, coming out June 8th. So far a few songs have been (unintentionally?) leaked on the internet and you can get "Bushwick Blues" and "911" if you want to search for them, but I'm pretty sure they are there illegally so you can listen to "Bushwick Blues" on their myspace. While you are there you can check out their tour dates for this summer, it's pretty extensive. They will make an appearance at the Middle East (Cambridge, MA) on June 28th, I will be there. It's going to be a really fantastic summer album, you can tell just by looking at the cover art. That is assuming you judge things by their covers like I do. It screams "awesome summer album for driving to the beach with the windows down and volume up" right? Right.

I loved their last album, "People C'mon", is a song from it that we have mentioned before. They do guitar and drum driven rock with a very classic sound, no computer stuff, the way rock & roll should be. It's nice to know that music like this still exists, thank you Delta Spirit.

"911" is a perfect song about the current times with lyrics, "the folks back east they say the market's fine/ I heard that before in 1929" and other politically charged bits and pieces. "Bushwick Blues" gets played on repeat a lot because it has a fast tempo and well written hooks about a love that's hard to get over. I give this band one of my highest recommendations. I like it so much that I took the time to transcribe the lyrics of my favorite verses just for you (sorry if I botched them). Plus that way I got to play it on repeat some more. During SXSW, Delta Spirit did an acoustic recording of Bushwick Blues that you can watch in the video below. For the more upbeat album version listen on myspace. Hope you like it!

Hold on to my hand 

Never let go, never let go,

We were just two kids, acting tough, 

Well then we grew up, me not so much

All the other guys, that you see, 

are nothing compared  to me, 

because my love is strong and my heart is weak after all. 

(skipped a verse)

To the other side of the states return,

I met a young girl, well I couldn't manage her, 

Because I think of you in every girl I meet, 

It's no relief, it sounds to me, just as sweet,

So maybe I'm a fool for feeling used,

But the way we kiss at night I thought you knew,

Cause my love is strong, and my heart is weak afterall

Wild Sweet Orange--Either/Or

In looking for The Spring Standard video, I started watching other Paste videos. (When I went to SXSW the songs from Paste were my favorites and I should invesitgate it more regularly.) Anyway, I stumbled upon the video for "Ten Dead Dogs" which they also performed on Letterman. But for whatever reason, I kind of liked this one.

The Spring Standard--Little Bug

I bought the 1% for the Planet on iTunes and just threw them all on my little iPod to shuffle. Whenever this song comes on, I'm usually cooking for whatever reason, and I find myself bopping (not really dancing) around the kitchen. I finally looked into them a little more and really like their sound. A fun little spring band!

Hockey - Song Away

It's almost Friday, which means it's almost the weekend, which is why this song is perfect to get you through the end of the week, because "tomorrow is just a song away." Here is the official video, which makes me laugh because of the awesome dance moves. Enjoy.

Moto Boy - Heart is a Rebel

For weeks this song this song was stuck in my head in the worst way. I walked around randomly singing "the heart is a rebel, stay with meeeee" to inanimate objects. It was not pretty, I am a horrendous singer. Eventually I thought the song got unstuck, but this morning when I decided to be crazy and make an egg and cheese sandwich over the usual yogurt, it seemed necessary to belt out "the heart is a rebelllll" in my most operatic voice...to an audience of yogurt that I wouldn't be eating. True Story. Moto Boy is clearly using Jedi mind tricks to make me post this song, that must be it. Maybe now the madness will stop. I do like the song, just not my turrets-like outbursts of it.  Go ahead and laugh, but once you listen to it, it will happen to you too because....the heart is rebel, just wait and see! 

The angelic voice of Moto Boy is Oskar Humblebo, a Swede described on his website as "a one man choir with a magnificent operaesque voice accompanied by high lonely tones on a hard rock guitar with the distortion pedal well hidden in the basement." After reading this, I realized his songs could easily be used in Phantom of the Opera. With a look that involves the combination of a George Michael earring, strong features, and the occasional red lipstick, Moto Boy is a hard face to forget, kind of like his songs. Download a lot of his songs for free here on his website.

The Heart Is A Rebelbymotoboy Click here to download Heart is a Rebel for free

The Roy Davis Funeral Home--You Will Never Be Alone

Roy Davis is from Portland, ME and is friends with some of my Northampton, MA musician friends. I found him through the creepy wonder of Facebook. Couple clicks here and there, who's The Roy Davis Funeral Home? YouTube.com. . .and here we have it!

"A lark in my heartbeat..."

I just wanted to remind you that Josh Ritter's newest album is out today on itunes or your local record store (yay! finally!).  I have really been enjoying listening to this album streaming on NPR's but I am very excited to finally have it on my ipod. It is a really interesting album, that I would go in depth explaining for you, but why do that when Josh Ritter can explain it for you here on his website.  Seriously, read it, it will increase your appreciation of the album.

"Lark" is a sweet song that struck me when I first listened to the album, and while I have moved on to obsess over "Rattling Locks" and "The Curse", "Lark" is such a happy, uplifting, perfect for spring kind of song. Josh Ritter continues to be the most consistent and talented singer/songwriters of the decade with yet another fantastic album. Enjoy.

Dj Moule - Marleymania

While on the search for the perfect summer songs for the perfect summer mix of 2010, I stumbled across this little gem. It is basically amazing. Some classic Marley songs put to the music of Phoenix's 1901. And it works, even though you don't expect it to. It's kind of like magic. Sweet summer magic, it's just around the corner...and everything's going to be alright.

Dj Moule - MarleyMania (click to play/dl)

Horse Feathers Concert @ Cafe 939 4/30 Review

Horse Feather's played for an audience seated on the floor of Cafe 939, a nice change of pace, making the venue that much more intimate, which complimented the indie-folk music perfectly. Justin Ringle, the lead vocalist and guitarist, even asked mid-concert "Since you are all seated, do you ummm have any questions?" sadly, the only question was "Can we stand up?" which received some boos from the people in the back benefiting from their lucky vantage point. When nobody moved, the cellist, Catherine Odell, responded with "awkwaaaaard." Ringle chimed in with, "It's folk music, it's supposed to be awkward." Somehow, Horse Feathers' skillfully arranged songs are anything but awkward. The crowd enjoyed this light banter which was a nice juxtaposition to the often sad and heavy subject matters of the lyrics, maybe that is the awkwardness Ringle is referencing. However, the skill and feeling that is poured into ever song by the quartet means the focus is on the musical arrangement and less on the lyrics. 

Horse Feathers opened with “Working Poor”, a well suited song for the current economy with lyrics “we all forfeit what we make/ too far gone, in our heads/ we all live and work in the red”, to which the crowd responded with loud applause. They continued to play a nice mix of songs from their newest album, Thistled Spring, and from their sophomore release House with No Home including; Belly of June, Cascade, Thistled Spring, and Curs in the Weeds. The gentle vocals took a backseat to the spectacular combination of cello, violin, guitar, and percussions throughout all of their songs. 

When the violinist, Nathan Crockett, put the saw in his lap for “Cascades” there was an audible buzz of excitement in the crowd. The saw’s emanating sound was not that cartoonish trembling noise often heard, but rather a haunting metallic cry. The saw’s pitch rose and fell exquisitely in tune, enhancing the dark mood of the song. The saw reappeared in the closing song, Heathen’s kiss, which was accompanied by the talented Sam Cooper who skillfully played the symbol with his violin bow as well as the mandolin. It should be noted that Sam Cooper adeptly switched from banjo, violin, mandolin, harmonium and percussion throughout the set, often managing two instruments simultaneously. While the musical saw was a treat to watch, Sam Cooper’s instrument shuffling was the real spectacle. For their encore they played a cover of Gillian Welch's "Orphan Girl", which they did a fantastic job with. The harmonizing of all four vocals was perfect and they did a good job playing the song with their own style. "Orphan Girl" could have been on their album and it would be hard to recognize as a cover song.  

The indie music scene has been trending toward the electronic side for some time now, making this acoustic indie band a refreshing pleasure to see live. Without the help of effect pedals, Horse Feathers relies on their musical abilities, the vocals of all four band members, and their creative experimentation with their instruments to create different sounds that many other bands are only capable of producing with the help of computers. The resulting music is pure and simply beautiful.

Watch Heathen's Kiss to see the saw in action. 

Weekend Ramblings

Happy Derby day! Get out your big hats and start sipping on those mint juleps. I feel like I should have come up with music appropriate for this event maybe something with a little country twang talking about horses, but it was just not what was on my mind. All I have is this picture and some tunes to share. The songs come from a delightful little music site called "Et musique pour tous" meaning "and music for all". Click the links to play the music and hopefully by now you remember what to do to download it. Enjoy.

The first one is great chill music to put on for background music. When I own the little cafe/sandwich shop of my dreams this music will be playing. It is just so happy and short and sweet.  

Delicious Vinyl All-Stars – Whats Up Fatlip (Breakbot RMX Instrumental) [Feat. Fatlip]

The second one is a Clock Opera remix of Marina and the Diamonds' "I am not a Robot". I have heard lots of remixes of this song recently and this one just blows them all out of the water. The original song is great and if you are on the anti-remixes side of things than definitely check out the original. 

Marina & The Diamonds – I Am Not A Robot

Marina & The Diamonds – I Am Not A Robot (Clock Opera Remix)

Oh, I almost forgot, here is how to make a Mint Julep from Eben Freeman of the Tailor Restaurant in New York City. 

2 tablespoons (1 ounce) club soda

2 heaping teaspoons superfine sugar

15 fresh mint leaves, plus 5 small sprigs for garnish

6 tablespoons (3 ounces) Bernheim or other high-quality whiskey

2 cups crushed ice

In julep cup, stir together club soda and sugar until sugar just begins to dissolve. Add mint leaves and, using glass muddler or back of large spoon, gently press leaves into sugar syrup until slightly darkened but not completely crushed. Add whiskey, then fill cup with crushed ice and, using long spoon, stir briefly. Tuck mint sprigs into top of cup and insert short straw.
Read More http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Mint-Julep-242525#ixzz0mghuYppY 

Picture is from http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12268144/ read their article about the most expensive mint julep.