General, International music, News

Harlan Pepper, Graham Nicholas, Luke Bell & HT Heartache

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Before getting fully into 2015 releases (there are plenty of good ones already out there), I will quickly go through some 2014 release that I either bought or received during the last couple weeks of 2014. I know I’m already far behind on the 2015 stuff, but it would feel wrong to leave these out without even a mention, because I’ve been listening to them a lot during the past month.

harlan

First we have Harlan Pepper from Hamilton, Canada. I’ve been aware of their existence for a while and finally picked up their 2014 album Take Out a Twenty and Live Life to The Fullest from Zunior’s Boxing Day sale. I’ve been enjoying this one a whole lot. My favourite song is this one called TV (Let It Slide). That line “Let it slide / that’s my motto / It hasn’t done me much good” hits me every time. I’m guilty as charged.

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

Harlan Pepper Website

grahamnicholas

Staying in Canada. Next we have Canadian singer-songwriter Graham Nicholas and his excellent album Sometimes Chicken, Sometimes Feathers. I was extremely interested when I read comparisons to John Prine, early Ryan Adams etc and this somehow managed to live up to my expectations. Of course I didn’t expect him to be as good as those guys, because well hardly anybody is as good those guys. Nevertheless, this is a damn fine Canadian country/folk album. This is Wandering Angel from the album.

Graham Nicholas Website

lukebell

Time to leave Canada behind for a while and locate into Nashville, TN, where Luke Bell is delivering awesome country sounds. I tried to find his album Don’t Mind If I Do before writing my albums of the year lists, but his Bandcamp only contained three songs at the time. I bought them for 5 bucks and recently Luke added the whole album there and I was finally able to download this whole gorgeous country album. So Luke, if you read this. I kind of owe you $5, because I got the whole thing for half price (but don’t send any wise guys after me, paypal address will be a better option). Anyway, it’s a great album and it indeed might have ended up on my albums of the year list If I had heard it in time. This one is a great song called Sometimes.

Luke Bell at Facebook

htheartache

Moving on to Los Angeles and it’s time to end this little blog post with something breathtakingly beautiful. HT Heartache aka Mary Roth might not be someone that I listen to on a daily basis, but when the time is right, the slow-paced beauty of her new album Sundowner definitely has the quality to get under my under skin and take full control of my heart. This is HT Heartache’s music video for the song Cowboy Poetry.

HT Heartache – Cowboy Poetry from HT Heartache on Vimeo.

And this is Roam Cold Highway from the album.

HT Heartache Website

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Headline, International music, News

Michael Feuerstack (CAN) visits Finland in early February (6-7.2)

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feuerstack

This is definitely a major news event on the One Chord to Another scale. Wonderful Canadian singer-songwriter Michael Feuerstack will be touring in Europe throughout February and the schedule includes two Finnish dates. On the 6th of February, he will play in Tampere at Valoa Festivaali (Artturi) and a day later on the 7th of February, he visits our Flavour of the Month Club in Turku (Pikku-Torre). I’m extremely excited, because I’m a big fan and have spent a lot of time listening to his music during the last year and a half. Yeah, I know. Year and a half isn’t much, because this man has been making great music since mid 90s, but I didn’t join the choir until his 2013 release Tambourine Death Bed. That’s because I was clueless prick before that and hadn’t listened to him while he was performing under that Snailhouse moniker (Tambourine Death Bed was the first one released under his own name). During the last six months I’ve also added a couple of Snailhouse albums (Lies On The Prize and Sentimental Gentleman) to my collection and those are just as fabulous as the newer material.

Michael Feuerstack is currently getting ready to release his new album The Forgettable Truth. The album comes out in February on a great Canadian label Forward Music Group. You’ll find the first outtakes from the forthcoming album below. I also added a few of my own Michael Feuerstack/Snailhouse favourites there. You can hear/buy all of his material at Bandcamp or order a copy to your local record store.

Michael Feuerstack in Finland:

Friday 6.2. Valoa-Festivaali, Artturi, Tampere
Saturday 7.2 Flavour of the Month, Pikku-Torre, Turku

Clackity Clack From the forthcoming album The Forgettable Truth

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKs4rgiWztU]

The Devil From the forthcoming album The Forgettable Truth

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/184727117″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”100″ iframe=”true” /]
 
Friday Night Guard from his 2014 album Singer Songer. The vocalist on this one is one of my all-time favourite musicians, John K Samson (The Weakerthans).

Scorekeeper from his 2013 album Tambourine Death Bed.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ez0Aq0LjCmM]

Daydream from Snailhouse’s 2011 classic Sentimental Gentleman. Such a brilliant song.

(Not) Superstitious from his 2008 release Lies on the Prize.

That’s actually as far as I have gone back on the Michael Feuerstack back catalogue. I’m sure there are plenty of great tracks on the earlier Snailhouse albums as well and of course this was just a tip of the iceberg. Just one great song from each of those four gorgeous albums that I own and a couple from the forthcoming album.

That’s all for now. I’ll write another reminder a few days before the shows. Visit the links below to find more information about this great Canadian tunesmith. Before reading that bio on his website, I wasn’t aware that in the 80s Michael also had a band with Rick White who became front man of Eric’s Trip. I know a few of my friends used to love that band, so that might be another interesting fact.

Michael Feuerstack Website
Forward Music Group Website

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Finnish music, International music, News, Top lists

Top 10 EPs of the Year 2014

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Let’s get this EP list out of the way as well before the Christmas break. There’s of course that reissue list to do as well, but I’m not sure am I going to do that one. There’s always so much new stuff that I haven’t had much money left to buy a lot of wonderful reissues. Top 3 would be awesome of course Bob Carpenter, Sister Flo etc… We shall see if I do it at all. But first it’s time for this EP list. I have a strange feeling that I’m forgetting something important. Maybe I add an eleventh if I figure it out after posting this. That Love Sport Ep might have made the cut, but I haven’t had the time to listen to it enough at this point.

Top 10 EPs of the Year 2014

harryheart

10. The Harry Heart Chrysalis – Bodensee and Other False Stories EP

Let’s get the list going with Australian The Harry Heart Chrysalis. This lovely EP came out very early in the year. I especially love the song You Are Not A Rarity. This has some rather brutal lines “if I could take you anywhere, I’d take you off my mind”, but somehow I still love it.

redjacket

9. Red Jacket Mine – Pure Delight EP

Moving on to Seattle. Red Jacket Mine released their new soulful EP Pure Delight late in the year and like the title promised, it sure is a pure delight to listen to it. This is Crow from the EP.

jamesfrost

8. James Frost – Nameless EP

Next stop on our world tour is England where James Frost released a rather amazing folk EP. Traditional British folk gently collides with more modern sounds and the end result touches you deeper than where a doctor could reach. Especially the title track Nameless is spectacular.

weat
7. The Weather Station – What Am I Going To Do With Everything I Know

Back across the pond and to Canada. A long time favourite Tamara Lindeman aka The Weather Station released incredibly beautiful new EP called What Am I Going To Do With Everything I Know. Simply stunning like always.

songbirds

6. The Perfectos – Songbirds & Wolves

The Perfectos has been a very big deal at the onechord.net headquarters during the last couple of months of the year. I’ve been listening to their whole excellent back catalogue lately. Their 2014 release was this excellent EP Songbirds & Wolves.

paxtoni

5. Matt Paxton – Mountain Eyes EP

I’ve been a big fan of Matt Paxton since I first heard his album How The Land Lies. We still have to wait for that next full-length, but Other Songs Music Co put out a really lovely Mountain Eyes EP this fall. A bunch of great originals and a lovely The National cover. I’ve actually never really listened to The National, but after hearing Matt’s version, I kind of like to start. It can work this way around as well. This is Pink Rabbits from Matt Paxton’s beautiful Mountain Eyes EP.

thetaste

4. The Taste – Sea Legs EP

Toronto-based The Taste gave us a magnificent little pop record called Sea Legs. I have big smile on my face when I listen to this one. My kind of pop music. I hope they release a full-length album sometime soon. I would love to hear one.

lacbelot

3. Lac Belot – Elizabeth EP

Because I only had a few Finnish EPs that I had really listened to a lot, I didn’t see the point in making a separate list for them. I couldn’t even come up with ten. Therefore they had to fight for their place on this international list. One made the cut and it’s this wonderful debut EP by Lac Belot. Elizabeth was my Finnish song of the year and all three songs on the EP are magnificent.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/163284516″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”100″ iframe=”true” /]
 
gudridi

2. Gudrid Hansdottir – Taking Ship

Gudrid Hansdottir’s Taking Ship was one of my big favourites during the year. I’m not entirely sure should it have been on the album list. I think I’ve seen people call it an EP, a mini-album and an album. It feels like a mini-album to me, so therefore I didn’t put it among the full-lengths. One thing is certain though, it’s spectacular.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/124294906″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”100″ iframe=”true” /]
 

And the EP of the year award goes to..

caletyson

1. Cale Tyson – Cheater’s Wine EP

I really loved and enjoyed Cale Tyson’s EP Cheater’s Wine. Well-crafted and beautifully delivered classic country songs. This was even an album of the month on this little blog of mine, even though it’s not even an album. Cheater’s Wine is just brilliant. I hope we will finally get a Cale Tyson full-length album sometime next year.

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Featured, Headline, International music, Top lists

Top 30 Albums of the Year 2014 – Internation Edition (Part Two 15-1)

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Moving on to the second chapter. If you didn’t catch the part one you can find it here. Anyway, here we go. 15 more albums to go.

Top 30 Albums of the Year 2014 – Internation Edition (Part Two 15-1)

Sloan_Commonwealth

15. Sloan: Commonwealth

One of my all-time favourite bands Sloan can kick off this second chapter. Each of the four songwriters in the band wrote one side of the record and they all did an excellent job. I suppose the highlight has to be Andrew Scott’s 18 minutes long Forty-Eights Portraits. A stunning song and it’s rather remarkable that a person like yours truly who usually gets bored if a song lasts over three minutes, really loves this song.

sturgill

14. Sturgill Simpson: Metamodern Sounds In Country Music

I’m not amazed if I start receiving hate mail when people see Sturgill Simpson’s americana/country masterpiece Metamodern Sounds in Country Music outside the top 10 (thankfully nobody actually reads this, so they don’t see this). If this list tried to be objective, this would go into the top 3, but on a personal level this wasn’t as important as the ones that you will see next. But hey, I still love the record and I really loved the fact that it got such a great reception.

paisley

13. Doug Paisley: Strong Feelings

I’m not sure did I ever feature Doug Paisley’s Strong Feelings at onechord.net, but I did buy it the minute it came out back in January and we have been close friends ever since. Perhaps I felt that there wasn’t really any need to praise him. Doesn’t everyone already know that this guy is one of the best. Such a great songwriter, such a lovely album.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/122898287″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”100″ iframe=”true” /]
 

nqarbuckle

12. NQ Arbuckle – The Future Happens Anyway

I’m a long time fan and therefore I was thrilled about the fact that there was finally a new NQ Arbuckle album out and available. These Canadian folk rockers should be far better known. Their albums XOK and Last Supper In A Cheap Town are both classic in my head & heart and this new one called The Future Happens Anyway is also brilliant.

caleb

11. Caleb Caudle: Paint Another Layer On My Heart

Caleb Caudle already appeared on the best songs list, but of course Paint Another Layer On My Heart claims a place here as well. It might not be the most original thing I’ve ever heard, but the songs are so well written and the whole thing feels so genuine and heartfelt. This album makes me cry, but in a good way. No matter how many layers you have around your heart, this one will get through and hits the romantic core of your heart.

parker

10. Parker Millsapp – Parker Millsap

This young man from Oklahoma released a stunning debut album. After hearing a song or two here and there, I wasn’t that convinced about the greatness of Parker Millsap. I mean I definitely liked the songs, but I didn’t think they were something that special. However, when I finally started fully concentrating and listening to the whole album, I saw the light and realized that a) I had been an idiot b) this guy is a damn good songwriter. What a spectacular record.


 

thedelines

9. The Delines – Colfax

I’m a huge Willy Vlautin fan so obviously I was extremely excited about The Delines and they sure didn’t disappoint me. I wasn’t the biggest fan of the latest Richmond Fontaine album, but this album by The Delines is just wonderful and dazzlingly beautiful.

robertellisi

8. Robert Ellis – The Lights From The Chemical Plant

Another of those early favourites. The new Robert Ellis album came out in February and have hold its charm throughout the year. I’m not sure what is the general consensus, but I love this one even more than I loved this excellent New West debut Photographs. Adding a bit of Paul Simon and Randy Newman influences to his sound palette was a great idea if you ask me.

jaywilliamhenderson

7. Jay William Henderson – Hymns To My Amnesia

I remember reading good things about the previous Jay William Henderson album, but I never properly listened to it. Thankfully I did start paying attention to Jay William Henderson in July 2014 when his new amazingly beautiful record Hymn to My Amnesia came out. This was an album of the month on this blog probably for three months. Partly because I was too lazy to pick a new one, but partly also because it felt relevant all that time and still do.

hallelujah

6. Hallelujah The Hills – Have You Ever Done Something Evil?

This list needs a lot of indie rock and a couple of sing-a-long choruses and Boston-based Hallelujah The Hills is the best option to provide that. Especially the first half of Have You Ever Done Something Evil? is unbelievably brilliant. Not that there’s really anything to complain about the latter half of it either. A damn fine album.

freschard

5. Freschard – Boom Biddy Boom

Like I said on the song list. This one is actually December 2013 release, but it’s my blog and my rules. This was a year of Freschard for me and I don’t have the heart to leave this one out. Boom Biddy Boom by Freschard is totally irresistible. I just love her music wholeheartedly. I’m a sucker for sad music, but sometimes it’s good to listen to something that makes me truly happy. For example the first three songs on this album makes me blissfully happy every time and the whole album is magnificent. I can walk around the town for hours just listening to Freschard. She is so brilliant and it’s a bliss to listen to Boom Biddy Boom.

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

sunde

4. J.E. Sunde – Shapes That Kiss The Lips Of God

A Blinding Flash of Light is my favourite song of the year and obviously the whole album Shapes That Kiss The Lips Of God by J.E. Sunde is absolutely amazing. I spend most of my free time listening to new music, but I rarely stumble upon something so unique and out of the ordinary that still is somehow easily approachable. The whole thing is gorgeous, but what about Easy Kid and those three songs in the middle, A Blinding Flash of Light, Dream Baby and I’m Gonna Disappoint You. Oh my. That’s a whole another level of greatness. I don’t think they have invented a word to describe that yet.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWE9C-oXJLw]

markham

3. Daniel Markham – Pretty Bitchin’

I’m not sure do I love that title of Daniel Markham’s new record, but I sure as hell love the record. If I look at my last.fm stats that doesn’t count everything, but gives a fairly good idea, Daniel Markham is the artist that I’ve listened to the most (and by far) during 2014. And this thing came out just a couple of months ago on Halloween. So yeah, you could say that I kind of like this one. Whenever I need some energy, I just play this as loud as possible. This one could put those energy drink companies out of business. Perhaps it’s just rock music, but sometimes that’s everything you need. A brilliant album.

myriam

2. Myriam Gendron – Not So Deep as a Well

And then something completely different. This was love at first sight. Myriam Gendron from Montreal turns Dorothy Parker’s poetry into folk music and does it so beautifully. Not So Deep As A Well is magical and captivating and you can listen to it for hours and hours. Believe me. I’ve tried and you can’t get tired of this one. It’s the most moving piece of music released during the year. Ballade Of a Great Weariness, The Last Question and Song For A Perfect Propriety are my favourites, but everything sounds wonderful.

And the album of the year award goes to…

frontierruckus

1. Frontier Ruckus – Sitcom Afterlife

No surprise there I suppose. Frontier Ruckus is my favourite band at the moment. Eternity Of Dimming was my album of the year last year and this year they do it again. They took a more melodic approach this time around and released the ultimate break-up album called Sitcom Afterlife. Some lines might even be questionable out of context, but it’s kind of like when The Raspberries sang that Go All The Way tune in the 70s. They get away with it, because they just do it so beautifully. Words like “You say that you’ve forgotten But I know that you’re rotten in your sweet little way” have never sounded as beautiful. Bathroom Stall Hypnosis, Crabapples In The Century’s Storm, Little Henrietta, The Splendid World, Darling Anonymity are all among the very best songs of the year and that’s already half of the album. So yeah, In the end it’s fairly easy decision. Sitcom Afterlife by Frontier Ruckus is my favourite album of the year 2014.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbgwBk8D32s]

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