International music, News

Evangeline Gentle, Maya Hawke, Dolly Valentine and Lily McKown

No Comments

The blog has again been on hold for various of reasons and I’ve just managed to make the weekly round up and the playlist. But I’m on vacation from the dayjob for the next week, so I’ll try to share some songs and albums that I’ve loved during the recent months. This post starts from Peterborough, Ontario with one of my favourite albums right now. It’s Evangeline Gentle’s self-titled debut that came out on the 21st of August on Sonic Unyon Records. I came across with the album because it was produced by Jim Bryson, but I stayed on its arms because of Evangeline Gentle’s wonderful songwriting and beautiful voice. Her songs found a home in my heart and contain a lot of those this is just how I feel or (and even more so) this just how I should feel moments. It’s rich, beautiful and powerful in its vulnerability. A treasure of an album.

Evangeline Gentle at Facebook
Evangeline Gentle Website

Moving over to New York for Maya Hawke’s album Blush that came out on 21st of August on Mom+Pop. She might still be better known as an actress, but this might change after people hear this strong album. Maya Hawke wrote the lyrics and Jesse Harris the music and the collaboration works beautifully. Here’s the album opener and my personal favorite Generous Heart.

Maya Hawke at Facebook
Maya Hawke Website

Everyone who follows the weekly playlist, knows that I love Dolly Valentine. I think over half of the songs of her new album have been on the playlist during the past year. The full album is finally out and available too and I’m very fond of it. Timeless, heartfelt and beautiful. Here’s the new lyric video for Everywhere, Love and one of my big favorites My Astrology.

Dolly Valentine at Facebook
Dolly Valentine Website

Last stop on this roundabout is Philadelphia and the debut album from Lily McKown. The album Backseat Driver came out on the 14th of August on Smartt* Records. It’s a beautiful folk rock album with great lyrics. This song B-Team might not be the best introduction to the album as a whole, but it resonates with my self-doubt ridden mind and is therefore my own favorite. Listen to / buy the whole album by hitting the links on the bandcamp player.

Lily McKown at Facebook
Lily McKown Website

Continue Reading

Playlist

OCTA Music Weekly – Episode #102

No Comments

Another week, another new music weekly.

This was quite a release week and it wasn’t possible to listen to everything before making this. But here’s some kind of attempt to round up most of the new releases of the week.

A lot of country music to love this week. Zephaniah OHora, Justin Wells and Colter Wall albums were all highly anticipated and they all are damn good. Some other kind of favourites too like Jeremy Squires, Caitlin Pasko and Rae Fitzgerald EP. Oh yeah and some gorgeous surprise b-sides from TK & The Holy Know-Nothings. And many other things. Here’s a full list of international albums that were on my radar:

Colter Wall – Western Swing & Waltzes and Other Punchy Songs (La Honda Records, 2020)
Justin Wells – The United State (Singular Recordings)
Zephaniah OHora – Listening to the Music (Last Roundup Records)
The Reeves Brothers – The Last Honky-Tonk
Jeremy Squires – Many Moons (Blackbird Record Label)
TK & The Holy Know-Nothings – Pickled Heat EP (Mama Bird Recording Co)
Rae Fitzgerald – Lonely Listener EP (Keeled Scales)
Caitlin Pasko – Greenhouse (Whatever’s Clever)
Karen Jonas – The Southwest Sky and Other Dreams
The Northern Belle – We Wither, We Bloom, (Die With Your Boots On Records)
Wood & Wire – No Matter Where It Goes from Here (Blue Corn Music)
Widowspeak – Plum (Captured Tracks)
Molly Tuttle – ..but I’d rather be with you (Compass Records)
Lauren O’Connell – Covers Two (Sugar Glider)
Aidan Knight – Aidan Knight (Full Time Hobby)
Angel Olsen – Whole New Mess (Jagjaguwar)
Bobby Rush – Rawer than Raw (Deep Rush Records)
Bettye LaVette – Blackbirds (UMG Recordings)
Isaac Hoskins – Sell the Farm
The Avett Brothers – The Third Gleam EP (Loma Vista)

This was also a brilliant Finnish release week. The biggest treasure is the debut album from Amuri. A really big deal for me and I love it so much. However, that’s not the only beautiful album release. Those Metsäheikki and Arppa albums are awesome as well. The playlist also has excellent new singles from Laura Moisio, Linkopii and Vuoret plus revisits The Sugarrush album that came out a week ago.

When it come to international singles there’s a powerful double from Adia Victoria and Austin Lucas early on. Some other personal favorites are new songs by Tiffany Williams, Laura Fell, Skyway Man and Girlatones. Just to name a few.

That’s it for this week. I’m on vacation for the next week, so I try to catch up on blog emails and maybe do a blog post or two. No definite promises though. Love from a distance.

1. Colter Wall – Big Iron (Western Swing & Waltzes and Other Punchy Songs, La Honda Records, 2020)
2. Justin Wells – Temporary Blue (The United State, Singular Recordings, 2020)
3. Zephaniah OHora – When I’ve No More Tears to Cry (Listening to the Music, Last Roundup Records, 2020)
4. Amuri – Ilta aamuksi vaihtui (Amuri, Helmi Levyt, 2020)
5. Metsäheikki – Puut tanssivat hiljaa (Sammakko saunassa, Helmi Levyt, 2020)
6. The Reeves Brothers – I’ve Lost All My Strength to Sing the Blues (The Last Honky-Tonk, 2020)
7. Adia Victoria – South Gotta Change (single, Atlantic, 2020)
8. Austin Lucas – Already Dead (single, Cornelius Chapel Records, 2020)
9. Jeremy Squires – Hummingbird (Many Moons, Blackbird Record Label, 2020)
10. TK & The Holy Know-Nothings – Ghosts (Pickled Heat EP, Mama Bird Recording Co, 2020)
11. Tiffany Williams feat Jonathan Dean – If I Wasn’t (single, 2020)
12. Rae Fitzgerald – Everlast (Lonely Listener EP, Keeled Scales, 2020)
13. Caitlin Pasko – Quiet Weather (Greenhouse, Whatever’s Clever, 2020)
14. Laura Fell – Bone of Contention (single, Balloon Machine, 2020)
15. Laura Moisio – Huumaavaa (single, Texicalli Records, 2020)
16. Arppa – Laavalamppuja (Laavalamppuja, Arppa Music, 2020)
17. Karen Jonas – Out in Palm Tree Paradise (The Southwest Sky and Other Dreams, 2020)
18. The Northern Belle – Evelyn (We Wither, We Bloom, Die With Your Boots On Records, 2020)
19. Wood & Wire – Spirit of ’94 (No Matter Where It Goes from Here, Blue Corn Music, 2020)
20. Widowspeak – Plum (Plum, Captured Tracks, 2020)
21. Heather Valley feat Katey Morley – How I Got to Memphis (single, 2020)
22. Molly Tuttle – A Little Lost (..but I’d rather be with you, Compass Records, 2020)
23. Lauren O’Connell – Thirteen (Covers Two, Sugar Glider, 2020)
24. Michael C. Duguay – Twenty-Five to Life (single, So Sorry Records, 2020)
25. Girlatones – Remember the Future (single, 2020)
26. Nap Eyes – Snake Oil (single, Jagjaguwar, 2020)
27. Skyway Man – Old Swingin’ Bell (single, Mama Bird Recording Co, 2020)
28. Have Gun Will Travel – Melancholy Moon (Everything Dies) (single, 2020)
29. Terry’s Paradise – Paradise Girl (single, 2020)
30. Molly Parden – Kitchen Table (single, 2020)
31. Laura Veirs – Turquoise Walls (single, Bella Union, 2020)
32. Andrew Gabbard – Cloud of Smoke (single, Colemine Records, 2020)
33. Aidan Knight – Julia in the Garden (Aidan Knight, Full Time Hobby, 2020)
34. Native Harrow – Smoke Burns (single, Loose Music, 2020)
35. Rhiannon Giddens – Don’t Call Me Names (single, Nonesuch Records, 2020)
36. Anne Malin – Child (single, 2020)
37. Julia Holter – Gold Dust Woman (single, Domino Recording Co, 2020)
38. Angel Olsen – Tonight (Without You) (Whole New Mess, Jagjaguwar, 2020)
39. Shabason, Krgovich & Harris – Osouji (single, Idee Fixe Records, 2020)
40. Grace Gillespie – Your God’s Within (single, Kaleidoscope, 2020)
41. Bill Callahan – Ry Cooder (single, Drag City, 2020)
42. Bobby Rush – Down in Mississippi (Rawer than Raw, Deep Rush Records, 2020)
43. Bettye LaVette – I Hold No Grudge (Blackbirds, UMG Recordings, 2020)
44. Vuoret – Sotaunia (single, M.dulor, 2020)
45. Linkopii – Takiainen (single, Luova Records, 2020)
46. Jacob Faurholt – Don’t You Worry About Me (single, Raw Onion Records, 2020)
47. Nick Garza’s Get Along – Take Me Down to San Antonio (single, 2020)
48. Sam Morrow – Money Ain’t a Thing (single, Forty Below Records, 2020)
49. John Pedigo’s Magic Pilsner – I Don’t Wanna Be Alone Tonight (single, State Fair Records, 2020)
50. Benchmarks – Our Finest Hour (Summer, Slowly, 2020)
51. The Sugarrush – FLB (High Status, Nature Sucks Anyway Records, 2020)
52. Brent Cobb – Shut Up and Sing (single, Ol’ Buddy Records, 2020)
53. Isaac Hoskins – I Make My Living in a Tavern (Sell the Farm, 2020)
54. The Avett Brothers – Back into the Light (The Third Gleam EP, Loma Vista 2020)
55. Trummors – What You Had (Dropout City, Ernest Jenning, 2020)
56. Juliet McConkey – Disappearing Girl (Disappearing Girl, 2020)
57. Evangeline Gentle – Ordinary People (Evangeline Gentle, Sonic Unyon Records, 2020)
58. Maya Hawke – So Long (Blush, Mom+Pop, 2020)
59. Dolly Valentine – Everywhere, Love (How To Be Good, Holy Golden Music, 2020)
60. Bright Arcana – There’s a Place (Bright Arcana in the Lowland Plains, 2020)

Playlist link

Playlist Archive

Oh and do buy the vinyl/cd/download. Spotify and other streaming services are perfect for these introductory purposes, but try to buy at least the music that matter the most to you

If you are looking this after a week has gone, the embedded Spotify will show the latest playlist. I’ll just update the same playlist because a) if someone wants to follow it, they can just follow that one list and will get a new set of songs each Sunday b) so that I don’t have a trillion of different playlists on my Spotify account.

Continue Reading

News, Playlist

OCTA Music Weekly – Episode #101

No Comments

Another week, another new music weekly.

This turned out to be a monster week, because we got a surprise release from The Sugarrush. I love this Finnish power pop band and together with The Posies and Teenage Fanclub they formed the backbone of my music taste and are one of the main reasons this website exists. Therefore I’m thrilled that the hardest rockin’ pop band released a wonderful new album. It was recorded a decade ago, but hey this music can’t get out of style because it was never in style. So if you are looking some fabulous loud guitar pop, listen to High Status by The Sugarrush. There’s also a few other Finnish beauties on the playlist. I’m especially fond of the new Lätsä single, but there’s also lovely new singles from Juha Mäki-Patola, Rohkeat kuvat, Joensuu 1685, Bad Sauna and an outtake from the brand new RULES album.

Moving on to the international album releases. There’s plenty to love this week. If you have followed the playlist over the past year, you’ve heard half of the songs from the Dolly Valentine album but now the album is out too. And because I’ve loved all singles, it’s no wonder that I love the album too. Then there’s new albums from new favorites like Juliet McConkey, Benchmarks, Evangeline Gentle, Maya Hawke, Bright Arcana, Trummors along with long time favourites like Guided By Voices, Old 97s, Hayward Williams and Steven Adams. Oh yeah and I somehow missed that El Goodo album a few weeks ago. Don’t know how I managed that because I follow them on social media and have all the older records. The only EP is from Rachel Angel, but it’s a really good one. Here’s the full list of international albums/EPs that were on my radar this week.

Benchmarks – Summer, Slowly
Dolly Valentine – How To Be Good (Holy Golden Music)
Juliet McConkey – Disappearing Girl
H.C. McEntire – Eno Axis (Merge Records)
Trummors – Dropout City (Ernest Jenning Record Co)
El Goodo – Zombie (Strangetown Records) <- released 7th of August
Bright Arcana – Bright Arcana in the Lowland Plains (Piasa Recordings)
Hayward Williams – Every Color Blue (Green Canoe Music)
Rachel Angel – Highway Songs EP (Public Works)
Maya Hawke – Blush (Mom+Pop)
Evangeline Gentle – Evangeline Gentle, Sonic Unyon Records)
Steven Adams and the French Drops – Keep It Light (Fika Recordings)
Guided By Voices – Mirrored Aztec
Old 97s – Twelfth (ATO Records)
Chuck Prophet – The Land That Time Forgot (Yep Roc)
Bright Eyes – Down in the Weeds, Where the World Once Was (Dead Oceans)
Jerry Joseph – The Beautiful Madness (Decor Records)
Pat Keen – Cells Remain (Birdwatcher Records)
Pop Filter – Banksia (Bobo Integral)
Siv Jacobsen – A Temporary Soothing
Eli Winter – Unbecoming (American Dreams)

And last but not least, the international should-be hits aka singles. A big favorite for me is the new Terry’s Paradise song. There’s also a song streaming from Ian Daniel Kehoe. He released three gorgeous albums on bandcamp a few weeks ago. I highly recommend buying them, but here’s an excellent taster. There’s also wonderful songs from Lydia Loveless, Bonnie Whitmore, I’m Kingfisher, VanWyck, War & Pierce, Matthew Ryan, Jeremy Ivey, Tomberlin, Lomelda, Victoria Bailey, Colter Wall. Just to name a few. These are all on this playlist, because they are all really good songs.

That’s it for this week. Love from a distance.

OCTA MUSIC WEEKLY – EPISODE #101

1. The Sugarrush – Yeah (High Status, Nature Sucks Anyway Records, 2020)
2. Benchmarks – The Good Fight (Summer, Slowly, 2020)
3. Dolly Valentine – Hard to Miss (How To Be Good, Holy Golden Music, 2020)
4. Juliet McConkey – River Run (Disappearing Girl, 2020)
5. H.C. McEntire – River’s Jaw (Eno Axis, Merge Records, 2020)
6. Trummors – Peacock Angel (Dropout City, Ernest Jenning Record Co, 2020)
7. El Goodo – I Can’t Leave (Zombie, Strangetown Records, 2020)
8. Bright Arcana feat Anna Tivel – Hard Times (Bright Arcana in the Lowland Plains, Piasa Recordings, 2020)
9. Hayward Williams – Put Down the Fight (Every Color Blue, Green Canoe Music, 2020)
10. Rachel Angel – Mexico (Highway Songs EP, Public Works, 2020)
11. Maya Hawke – Generous Heart (Blush, Mom+Pop, 2020)
12. Evangeline Gentle – Neither of Us (Evangeline Gentle, Sonic Unyon Records, 2020)
13. Terry’s Paradise – Dotted Line (single, 2020)
14. Ian Daniel Kehoe – There With You (single, Tin Angel Records, 2020)
15. Steven Adams and the French Drops – Going to Everglades (Keep It Light, Fika Recordings, 2020)
16. Guided By Voices – Thank You Jane (Mirrored Aztec, 2020)
17. Lydia Loveless – Wringer (single, Honey, You’re Gonna Be Late, 2020)
18. Bonnie Whitmore – Last Will & Testament (single, 2020)
19. Old 97s – I Like You Better (Twelfth, ATO Records, 2020)
20. Chuck Prophet – Willie and Nilly (The Land That Time Forgot, Yep Roc, 2020)
21. I’m Kingfisher – Children’s Atom Bomb (single, Fading Trail Records, 2020)
22. VanWyck – Your Favorite Tune (single, Maiden Name Records, 2020)
23. War & Pierce – The Map (single, War & Pierce Records, 2020)
24. Matthew Ryan – Rivers (single, Hearts & Smarts, 2020)
25. Victoria Bailey – Spent My Dime on the White Wine (single, Rock Ridge Music, 2020)
26. Colter Wall – High & Mighty (single, La Honda Records, 2020)
27. Jerry Joseph – Full Body Echo (The Beautiful Madness, Decor Records, 2020)
28. Jon Snodgrass – Don’t Break Her Heart (single, A-F Records, 2020)
29. Jeremy Ivey – Someone Else’s Problem (single, ANTI, 2020)
30. Bright Eyes – Stairwell song (Down in the Weeds, Where the World Once Was, Dead Oceans, 2020)
31. Briston Maroney – Deep Sea Diver (single, Atlantic, 2020)
32. Lätsä – Aja vaan (single, Helmi Levyt, 2020)
33. Bad Sauna – Niin kuin se ennen oli (single, All That Plazz, 2020)
34. Rohkeat kuvat – Lilja (single, Soit Se Silti, 2020)
35. RULES – Susie (Rules, Soliti, 2020)
36. Joensuu 1685 – The Most Luckiest Man (single, Svart Records, 2020)
37. Juha Mäki-Patola – Aurora (single, Hush Hush Records, 2020)
38. Pat Keen – Lost and Found (Cells Remain, Birdwatcher Records, 2020)
39. Tomberlin – Wasted (single, Saddle Creek, 2020)
40. Lomelda – Hannah Sun (single, Double Double Whammy, 2020)
41. Adam Wright – Darlene (single, De Casa, 2020)
42. Oliver Wood – Soul of This Town (single, Honey Jar Reords, 2020)
43. Stephanie Lambring – Fine (single, 2020)
44. Giulia Millanta – Tomorrow is a Bird (single, 2020)
45. Juanita Stein – The Mavericks (single, Nude Music, 2020)
46. Tough Boy – Sweetness (single, 2020)
47. Babe Club – Need a Girl (single, 2020)
48. Pop Filter – Romance at the Petrol Station (Banksia, 2020)
49. The Woolen Men – Outta Reach (single, Dog’s Table, 2020)
50. Michael Robert Murphy – Hollow World (single, 2020)
51. Songs 4 Nature – Foolish Man’s Mistake (single, nature Forever Records, 2020)
52. Angel Olsen – Waving, Smiling (single, Jagjaguwar, 2020)
53. Siv Jacobsen – Anywhere Else (A Temporary Soothing, U OK, 2020)
54. The Great Park – A Carrion Call (single, Woodland Recordings, 2020)
55. Selah Broderick – Every Bush and Tree (single, Western Vinyl, 2020)
56. Sylvie Simmons – Nothing (Blue on Blue, Compass Records, 2020)
57. Kath Bloom – Let’s Get Going (Bye Bye These Are the Days, Dear Life Records, 2020)
58. Will Johnson – Trouble (El Capitan, Keeled Scales, 2020)
59. Arlo McKinley – We Were Alright (Die Midwestern, Oh Boy Records, 2020)
60. Eli Winter – Maroon (Unbecoming, American Dreams, 2020)

Playlist link

Playlist Archive

Oh and do buy the vinyl/cd/download. Spotify and other streaming services are perfect for these introductory purposes, but try to buy at least the music that matter the most to you

If you are looking this after a week has gone, the embedded Spotify will show the latest playlist. I’ll just update the same playlist because a) if someone wants to follow it, they can just follow that one list and will get a new set of songs each Sunday b) so that I don’t have a trillion of different playlists on my Spotify account.

Continue Reading