Category Archives: Music

New music by emerging artists.

“The Angels Were Singing” by Matthew Perryman Jones
23
Jun

Matthew Perryman Jones’ first full length album since 2008, Land of the Living was produced by Cason Cooley (Katie Herzig) and was released on May 29th. The record could not have found a better birthplace than the elusive bohemian studio in Round Top, Texas, where it was recorded.

In each song there is a sense of wandering in the desert and wrestling with the angels. “Waking up the Dead” conveys the transition from mourning to once again feeling passionate about life. Matthew mirrors the poetry of Leonard Cohen when he sings, “You stand in the water with your arms crossed, groaning hallelujah.”

The song “The Angels Were Singing” delves into Jones’ grief over the recent loss of his father. He says, “I started running to feel more alive, to wake up my senses that slowly had died . . . each tear was a chorus, a sacred reprise, and I finally was grieving that long goodbye.”

MPJ has been a staple feature in the nationally acclaimed Ten Out of Tenn. Collective with fellow artists, Katie Herzig, Erin McCarley, Butterfly Boucher, Andrew Belle and others. He is currently getting ready to start touring in support of his upcoming album.

[audio:The Angels Were Singing.mp3|titles=The Angels Were Singing|artists=Matthew Perryman Jones]
“The Angels Were Singing” by Matthew Perryman Jones

“Flower Flower” by The Vespers
15
Jun

Here is the official music video for The Vespers’ brand new song “Flower Flower” from THE FOURTH WALL, released on April 3, 2012.

They will be playing 25 plus shows throughout the summer and the rest of the year.

[audio:Flower Flower.mp3|titles=Flower Flower|artists=The Vespers]
“Flower Flower” by The Vespers

Image courtesy of The Vespers FanBridge mailing list

“Holdin’ Me” by Darin Bennett and the Requiem
13
Jun

Los Angeles-based artist, Darin Bennett, represents the new breed of the old school singer/songwriter/guitarist. He uses a combination of slide guitar driven, gritty delta blues, with elements of both modern and classic rock and soul. Since his debut album as a solo artist 20 Scarlet Monkeys, he has been at work with his band DARIN BENNETT AND THE REQUIEM who just released the EP Midnight Storybook. The EP is available for purchase via the band’s official website.

Bennett’s sound has been compared to a wide variety of artists including Tom Waits, Nick Cave, and Bruce Springsteen, as well pioneers such as Son House, Robert Johnson, Otis Redding, and Sam Cooke.

For a look at the video for the first single off Midnight Storybook, click here. “Holdin’ Me” was directed by Andrew Cochrane.

[audio:Holdin’ Me.mp3|titles=Holdin’ Me|artists=Darin Bennett and the Requiem]
“Holdin’ Me” by Darin Bennett and the Requiem

Image and mp3 courtesy of Darin Bennett (media query direct contact)

“Mulberry Breakdown” by Michi
12
Jun

Young singer-songwriter, Michiko Egger, has vast talents that have not gone unnoticed in the music industry. At just 16, she’s worked with seasoned musicians such as Grammy-award winner Steve Mitchell and Jazz guitarist Sheryl Bailey. With the release of Where Your Heart Is, Michi exposes her songwriting skills. Her honesty, attitude and unique vocal have drawn comparisons to Fiona Apple and Avril Lavigne. A jack-of-all trades musician, Michi plays everything from the drums to the clarinet to her signature guitar.

You may download a free mp3 of the first release off Michi’s debut album, “Mulberry Breakdown,” via SoundCloud.

To purchase the album, please visit bandcamp.

[audio:Mulberry Breakdown.mp3|titles=Mulberry Breakdown|artists=Michi]
“Mulberry Breakdown” by Michi

mp3 courtesy of Sera Roadnight at MT Press

Image courtesy of ReverbNation Images

Emancipated Soul Movement Vol​.​1 by Anthony Rodriguez
10
Jun

AREXPRESSIONS is the vision of creative artist, Anthony Rodriguez. Anthony has been active in the music industry for over 20 years as a composer, guitarist, vocalist, producer & sound engineer.

Only in recent years has his primary passion for music shifted into one that is more in tune with the healing aspects of music and yoga. And this is where AREXPRESSIONS was born. Emancipated Soul Movement Vol. 1 is the first installment in a series, available for purchase from bandcamp.

In addition to music, Anthony recently began developing his passion for photography. Each digital track on Anthony’s bandcamp page is accompanied by one of his photos. To view his gallery click here.

Image downloaded via facebook

“Bright Day Coming” by Marc Scibilia
10
Jun

I saw Marc Scibilia in 2010 at the SXSW BMI Breakfast and I knew he’d find his way into the indie world – if a live stream feature on pastemagazine.com means you’ve made it, I don’t know?

His debut EP on Hickory Records was released digitally on June 5th! To accompany the EP is the official music video, “Bright Day Coming.” If Marc’s co-star looks familiar to you, it’s Isaac Blanks, the boy who played a young Michael Jackson in Jackson’s final music video with Akon, “Hold My Hand.”

[audio:Bright Day Coming.mp3|titles=Bright Day Coming|artists=Marc Scibilia]
“Bright Day Coming” by Marc Scibilia

Image dowloaded via Facebook

Two Songs About Cocaine
10
Jun

Hailing from Charleston, SC, Shovels & Rope is the combined creative efforts of Cary Ann Hearst and Michael Trent, two solo artists who have found a certain type of musical magic together. Their sophomore release, O’ Be Joyful, is set for a July 31 release date.

As Johnny and June, Dolly and Porter, Loretta and Conway and many more have shown us, country music was made for duets and Shovels & Rope continue in that grand tradition.

I was reminiscing over Old Crow Medicine Show as I listened to Shovels & Rope’s 10-song sampler. Then, of course, they go ahead and write a song about cocaine. So, I find it appropriate to include two songs about cocaine for you!

[audio:Hells Bells.mp3|titles=Hells Bells|artists=Shovels & Rope]
“Hells Bells” by Shovels & Rope
[audio:Cocaine Habit.mp3|titles=Cocaine Habit|artists=Old Crow Medicine Show]
“Cocaine Habit” by Old Crow Medicine Show

Plus, a few other songs of love gone wrong, deals gone bad, down and out characters, liquor-induced shenanigans and the peculiarities of Southern living.

[audio:Boxcar.mp3, Who’s Gonna Raise Babies (featuring Michael Trent).mp3, Magdelina.mp3|titles=Boxcar, Who’s Gonna Raise Babies (featuring Michael Trent), Magdelina|artists=Shovels & Rope, Shovels & Rope, Shovels & Rope]
“Boxcar”, “Who’s Gonna Raise Babies (featuring Michael Trent)” and “Magdelina” by Shovels & Rope

Image and mp3s courtesy of NoiseTrade

“Purity of Heart Is To Will One Thing” by The Welcome Wagon
10
Jun

A free download of The Welcom Wagon’s EP, Purity of Heart is to Will One Thing is available via NoiseTrade.

If you like what you hear, the new record will be released on June 12, 2012 by Asthmatic Kitty Records. It’s called Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices. The album was recorded last summer with many of the same folks who helped The WW make their first record, Welcome to the Welcome Wagon. “It’s a record about God’s love, faith in Jesus, and the difficulty of faith in Jesus, marriage, friendship, loneliness, grace and hope.” ~ The WW

[audio:Purity of Heart is to Will One Thing.mp3|titles=Purity of Heart is to Will One Thing|artists=The Welcome Wagon]
“Purity of Heart is to Will One Thing” by The Welcome Wagon (The WW)

mp3 courtesy of NoiseTrade

Image courtesy of The WW mailing list

“It’s All Okay” by Julia Stone
24
May

Released today was Julia Stone‘s solo album By The Horns.

The video for the single, “It’s All Okay,” can be viewed on Angus and Jula Stone’s YouTube channel.

“You might say you’re wounded and I might say I’m hurt. But, we knew the difference then between the fire and the earth. And, we may say we’re broken and we may say we’re weak. But, we knew before we started, oh, the secrets we would keep.” ~ Julia Stone

[audio:It’s All Okay.mp3|titles=It’s All Okay|artists=Julia Stone]
“It’s All Okay” by Julia Stone

Image courtesy of Music From Go To Woah

“Like Teenage Gravity” by Kasey Anderson & The Honkies (and a cover by Counting Crows)
22
May

Counting Crows’ released Underwater Sunshine (Or What We Did on Our Summer Vacation) via Collective Sounds on April 10, 2012. The album features a cover of the song “Like Teenage Gravity” by Kasey Anderson & The Honkies from his 2010 release Nowhere Nights via Red River Records.

Of the song, Counting Crows’ front man Adam Duritz wrote in the album’s liner notes:

“Ryan Spaulding raved about Kasey Anderson so I bought all the records and I really dug them. I really found out how right Ryan was a few months later when Kasey came down to Austin last year to play Smoke & Sand, Ryan’s Smashing Life (RSLblog.com) & Tyrannosaurus Record’s 2011 SxSW showcase. His big lonely rock songs are addictive but he crushed at Smoke & Sand with an acoustic set. Maybe that’s why I chose ‘Like Teenage Gravity’ to cover over songs like ‘I Was A Photograph’ or ‘Exit Ghost.’ I don’t know. I love his recording. It has a sparse almost hymn-like simplicity.” ~ excerpt from In Music We Trust.

Kasey Anderson & The Honkies are currently in the studio finishing up their forthcoming full-length, Let the Bloody Moon Rise, which will include a re-recording of “Like Teenage Gravity” – changing Anderson’s original into a full-on rock song. Have a listen below to 3 versions of the song: the original, the rough mix of the re-recording, and the Counting Crows’ cover.

[audio:Like Teenage Gravity (Original).mp3, Like Teenage Gravity (Rough Mix).mp3, Like Teenage Gravity (Cover).mp3|titles=Like Teenage Gravity (Original), Like Teenage Gravity (Rough Mix), Like Teenage Gravity (Cover)|artists=Kasey Anderson & The Honkies, Kasey Anderson & The Honkies, Counting Crows]

Image and mp3s courtesy of Alex Steininger of In Music We Trust