That one above was one of the best albums released last year and definitely showed that Caleb Caudle is a first-class songwriter. Caleb is currently in the process of making a follow-up called Carolina Ghost and has set an indiegogo project to help covering the costs of making this future classic. Watch Caleb Caudle singing Tuscaloosa below and if you like that as much as I do, consider participating his indiegogo campaign for Carolina Ghost.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIPwjWckTf4]

And of course I have to take this opportunity to recommend that wonderful album Paint Another Layer On My Heart. This is Trade All The Lights from that beautiful record.

Caleb Caudle Website

Aaron Lee Tasjan also had an indiegogo project a while back. I didn’t participate and I’m already regretting that wholeheartedly. I certainly would have loved to hear his full-length debut in advance, but now I just have to wait until it hits the shops. I’ve been aware of his existence for quite some time, but didn’t fully start paying attention until now. During the past few weeks I’ve been listening to Aaron a lot. I’ve listened his Daytrotter session several times, watched a lot of youtube videos and listened to this song called Living Proof countless amount of times (this soundcloud clip + various live videos). Such a damn good songwriter. Here’s that Living Proof + another favourite Judy Was A Punk Jesus Freak from Live and Breathing’s excellent video vaults.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBHNLv0QoN4]

Aaron Lee Tasjan Website

I’ve spent a big part of the past year listening to Freschard, Stanley Brinks & The Burning Hell (Mathias Kom, Ariel Sharratt) and I have become seriously addicted to their music. They also have a collaboration project called The Fox and they released their The Fox debut in January. If being brutally honest, The Fox doesn’t reach the same level of earthshaking brilliance as their individual efforts (only a few things actually do). Nevertheless, it’s still a lovely little album and it’s a whole lot of fun to listen to it. This one is This Beer from the self-titled The Fox album.

And here’s a song that I love from each of these magnificent songwriters and performers.

The Burning Hell – Nostalgia from their 2011 release Flux Capacitor.

Parking Lots from Stanley Brinks and The Wave Pictures album Gin (2014)

And finally the almighty Freschard and her song Not Ready from her 2011 classic Shh..

Great Peacock from Nashville is getting ready to release their debut full-length Making Ghosts. It will hit the stores and our hearts on the 12th of May and it will come out via the most excellent label This Is American Music. Expectations are high after that awesome EP that surfaced a few years back. As a taste of great things to come, they recently released a first outtake from the forthcoming album called Broken Hearted Fool. This has a couple of moments that reminds me a bit of Finnish alt.country band Ben’s Diapers. I count that as a good thing.

Great Peacock Website

Portland-based Hip Hatchet aka Philippe Bronchtein is also releasing a new album this spring. The album Hold You Like A Harness will drop into your soul on the 14th of April. The first outtake Coward’s Luck has been a big favourite in this apartment during the past week and I’m really looking forward to hearing the whole thing when the days get warmer and longer. Coward’s Luck goes like this.

Hip Hatchet Website

Last but not least something that is already out and available. We are still sticking in Portland, Oregon where folk group Grand Lake Islands have released their debut full-length Song From Far. I already liked their earlier EP, but never featured it on the blog. So it’s time to make amends by posting a song from this really good debut full-length. This one below is Monterey from Song From Far. If you want to make further studies, you can find the music video for the song Diamond Eyes by hitting this link.

Grand Lake Islands Website