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]

Carrousel is a Florida-based, dream-pop/folk outfit who will celebrate the release of their debut album, 27 Rue de Mi’chelle, on May 15, 2012.

The group is fronted by Joel Piedt, and features Rob Polischuck, Malee Bringardner, Patrick Chin, Erich von Hinken, and Landon Lee. The album’s protagonist, Michelle, is Piedt lost love and cause for heartbreak.

“I think the hardest part was having persistence to complete the project. It was a grueling two and a half years, especially with the way we went about piecing it together,” admits Piedt. “We were inspired by Brian Wilson’s modular recording, so we attempted to piecemeal parts of songs together to give the album a certain feel,” Piedt elaborates.

Another inspiration for the album is Ernest Hemingway’s A Moveable Feast, where he describes his time spent with expatriates at 27 rue de Fleurus. “Conveniently enough, the name Michelle was French. So, 27 rue de mi’chelle was born,” says Piedt.

Piedt is now ready for his next challenge: pulling the songs off live for audiences across the U.S.

The video for “14” can be viewed here. This video explores a new concept – one side of the screen backwards (as a performance) and one forward.

Reverse Side
Forward Side

[audio:14.mp3, Where Do We Go From Here.mp3|titles=14, Where Do We Go From Here| artists=Carrousel, Carrousel]
“14” and “Where Do We Go From Here” by Carrousel

Crown Point consists of Jon Davidson (vocals/guitar), Russell Stafford (vocals/guitar), and Kaycee Kay (drums). As a band, since late 2009, Crown Point has completed five national tours and are currently working on their debut full-length.

Their EP, Wolves, features Nickelback’s Daniel Adair on drums.

Image courtesy of sonicbids. To obtain and electronic press kit, visit sonicbids.

[audio:Back To You.mp3, Wolves.mp3|titles=Back To You, Wolves|artists=Crown Point, Crown Point]
“Back To You” and “Wolves” by Crown Point

mp3’s courtesy of Alex Steininger of In Music We Trust PR.

Portland, Oregon-based singer-songwriter John Amadon has released his third full-length, Seven Stars. John Amadon writes and records without financing from a label. He rarely plays live and he doesn’t tour. How does he eat?

Amadon is known around Portland for his seven-year stint as bassist for roots-rock/pop artist Fernando and for his locally self-released solo records.

Seven Stars was made possible with a little help from several friends, including Scott McPherson (live and session drummer for acts including Beck, Elliott Smith, Neil Finn, M.Ward, She & Him, Bright Eyes, et.al), Mike Coykendall (M.Ward, She & Him), and William Slater (The Grails).

[audio:Seven Stars.mp3|titles=Seven Stars|artists=John Amadon]
“Seven Stars” by John Amadon

In other In-Music-We-Trust news, Portland, Oregon-based folk-pop group Sassparilla released their latest, The Darndest Thing.

The outfit is comprised of Kevin “Gus” Blackwell (vocals, cigar box guitar, national resonator guitar), the father and son combo of Ross “Dagger” Macdonald (harmonica) and Colin “Sweet Pea” Macdonald (washtub bass), Naima (vocals, accordian, washboard), and Justin Burkhart (drums).

The Darndest Thing was produced by The Eels’ Chet Lyster and, with only eight songs, it clocks in at thirty-five minutes.

[audio:New Love.mp3|titles=New Love|artists=Sassparilla]
“New Love” by Sassparilla

mp3s courtesy of Alex Steininger at In Music We Trust PR

Portland, Oregon-based Rachel Taylor Brown will release her seventh full-length, World So Sweet, on September 20, 2011.

“I can never come up with anything pithy when someone asks me that. I hate when people ask me that,” grumbles Taylor Brown, when asked to describe her music. “As a joke, I sometimes say pith-rock; sharp ‘n’ pointy! Or spongy and permeable! Or maybe pith ‘n’ vinegar rock! No, wait: there’s that horrible thing they do to frogs in a lab, that’s pithing. Maybe igneous-rock is better.”

Talk to those who know her music, though, and other descriptions come up. “Unsettling but addictive.” “Good stories.” “Unpredictable.” “Arresting.” “Dark, funny, sweeping, panoramic, pretty, ugly, complex, moving.” And, “You can dance to it.”

~ ‘In Music We Trust’ tag by Music Blog: Covering Indie Music

Please have a listen to “Taxidermy” and “How To Make A World Class Gymnast” below.

[audio:Taxidermy.mp3, How To Make A World Class Gymnast.mp3|titles=Taxidermy, How To Make A World Class Gymnast|artists=Rachel Taylor Brown, Rachel Taylor Brown]
“Taxidermy” by Rachel Taylor Brown
“How To Make A World Class Gymnast” by Rachel Taylor Brown