Country, Americana, Folk, Power Pop, Indie Pop
Finnish blues/roots/country artist Marty the Random Guy released quite an impressive debut Hooks back in 2009. The world is still waiting for the follow-up, but these two live at Arcada videos give a little of taste of things to come. Great stuff again from Marty.
Smalltown Madness:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aw4G0DyDq5M]
Green Machine:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSMxDqdmYe4]
JEREMY SQUIRES
I’ve written about Jeremy Squires before and don’t have much new to say. I’ve just been listening to him at work lately and it has reminded me how much I love this guy. I can listen to his Central Nervous Station EP a couple of hours in a row. Sometimes it makes working a bit difficult, because when a song like A Warm Glow or Central Nervous Station flows through the headphones, everything stands stills for a second. The songs are gorgeous, but what really strikes me each time is that voice. I love his vocal delivery so much that Jeremy is quickly becoming one of my favourite vocalists. Here are A Warm Glow and Central Nervous Station one more time.
Jeremy Squires at Bandcamp
Jeremy Squires Website
PAPER BEAT SCISSORS
Another artist that has been playing quite a lot on my iPod lately is Canadian Paper Beat Scissors’ and their/his fairly new EP Live at St. Matthew’s Church. I like the whole thing, but I’ve been especially addicted to this song called Tendrils from the EP in question. This was a record store day release by the great Canadian label Forward Music Group. This is Tendrils.
MICHAEL FEUERSTACK
Staying with Forward Music Group, I’ll close this post with a month old Michael Feuerstack video The Same Sky. I haven’t heard his new full-length album Tambourine Death Bed that came out may 7th on Forward Music Group. However, I think I definitely should, because this is a really beautiful song and I’ve watched this video several times during the past weeks.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sK78LzwxDH8]
I don’t really writer proper reviews anymore, but if I did, this one would get all five hearts. Singer-songwriter John Moreland from Oklahoma has created something rather special. In The Throes is just one hell of an album. This is songwriting of the highest order and a contender for the album of the year award. Springsteen comes to mind occasionally, but it’s not disturbing at all. This is no third grade singer-songwriter trying to copy everything he can from the masters. John Moreland is a true talent and with this album he claims a place among the finest current americana/country singer-songwriters. This whole thing is just so damn brilliant that I’m struggling to decide which song to feature here. Let’s go with Break My Heart Sweetly this time, but you really need to hear the whole amazing album. In The Throes was released by Last Chance Records on 11th of june.
I had to add Oh Julia as well:
I’ve been kind of bad at updating lately, so I don’t think I’ve posted about the greatness of Dietrich Strause. I found him few months back and have been keeping an ear on ever since. He just had a succesful kickstarter and will release a new album later in the year. While waiting I can listen to this song Lemonade Springs over and over again. I don’t know will it feature on the upcoming album, but it’s certainly a well crafted and beautifully delivered folk song. I also have to post the song Annie Dear, because not-to-post-it would just feel criminal. Such a damn fine song as well. Boston-based Dietrich Strause is a very gifted songwriter and I have really high hopes for the upcoming album. This is Lemonade Springs.