TJ Doyle is a man who sings about the changes and challenges of our generation. His retro vibes convey an authenticity that harks back to the great work of the 60s. His new album, On The Horizon, is available today, April 8.

The Vinyl District premiered Doyle’s new single “Change,” and compared his sound to Neil Young and The Byrds, noting that “the star of the track is the vulnerable way in which TJ exposes himself—his brother’s death and the resulting feeling of alienation are palpable in his bittersweet delivery of the lyrics.”

In addition, Bearded Magazine describes the full album as, “hard and honest, never once wavering.”

You may stream the full album via SoundCloud.

[audio:01 Change.mp3|titles=Change|artists=TJ Doyle]
“Change” by TJ Doyle

Los Angeles’ Saint James Band has premiered their sweet folk-pop single “Always Be With You” on The Vinyl District.

The album of the same name was released on March 24, 2015. You may preview the full album via SoundCloud.

George Castrinos, leader of the Saint James Band, was destined to play guitar and was born to a life as a musician. Castrinos explains, “When I was a kid my guitar was my higher power, and when I would play the notes, the sound and tones I would get from it would give me purpose.”

Rooted in this purpose, the Saint James Band’s debut album Always Be With You runs rich with Americana folk-rock, intricate finger picking, roots-influenced slide guitar, and twangy hard-driven blues. Castrinos resides in Los Angeles, and often records in a studio whose walls once housed Orson Welles, which was also used as an echo chamber for classic recordings by Elvis and Bing Crosby.

Castrinos is also heavily influenced by Johnny Winter, Son House, Mississippi Fred McDowell, Mississippi John Hurt, and other luminary players. Tales of redemption, salvation, forgiveness, and love are the subjects of his songwriting.

[audio:Always Be With You.mp3|titles=Always Be With You|artists=Saint James Band]
“Always Be With You” by Saint James Band

The first single, “If Only” from the new LP, Moodswings, from LA’s Ships Have Sailed was premiered by The 405. The 405 called the song a “massive tune” and referred to the full album as a “juggernaut of an alt-rock debut.”

Moodswings (released March 10th), is a huge leap in creativity from the band’s accomplished debut EP, Someday (2014), showcasing their capacity for slow-burning hooks and dynamic production.

The second single “Boomerang” was premiered by A Music Blog, Yea? who called the song an “instantly catchy track.”

Other premieres include, “Summertime” on Popdose, “Criminal” via Cutprice Jukebox, “Out of Time” on Earmilk and “Drive” via BlackBook.

In addition, “Midnight” has been placed in the upcoming documentary about Russel Brand, “BRAND: A Second Coming“… in the wedding scene with Katy Perry. The premiere of this film opened the SXSW Film Festival last week. Ships Have Sailed also performed during SXSW on Friday, March 20 at 7pm at HandleBar.

[audio:If Only.mp3|titles=If Only|artists=Ships Have Sailed]
“If Only” by Ships Have Sailed

Raised in rural Pennsylvania, Ethan Jano was one of eight children. Jano’s earliest memories involve listening to his Dad and great uncle pick out old tunes from the likes of Buddy Holly, Johnny Cash, Elvis and Bob Dylan. When Jano turned eight, his Dad taught him his first guitar chords and one night around the campfire, Jano decided to break the ice by belting out a version of “Folsom Prison Blues” which seemed to leave everyone a little speechless.

Jano’s guttural vocals and peculiar delivery seem to blend traditional folk with rhythm and blues; a musical style inherited from a working class life that he has always known. Jano’s day job entails creating custom hardwood architecture at a Lumber mill in Boswell, Pennsylvania.

The debut album, I’ll Be Fine, was recorded at POGO Studios and will be released on February 10. The 12 songs authoritatively address unjust wars, which take place on both large and personal scales — a suite of topical folk songs that are as relevant today as their predecessors 50 years ago. To read more about it, click here.

“Wildfire” by Ethan Jano

Great Spirit is a unique culmination of a wide-variety of musical influences, from The Flaming Lips to Tony Rice and beyond. Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, Great Spirit combines poetic lyricism with equal parts folk-rock, bluegrass and funk. Their debut album Front Porch to Frontier (out January 13, 2015) combines tasteful blends of musical ability with distinctive, original songwriting showcasing an honest portrait of the people that compose the band itself. Great Spirit is composed of Tom Conneely, Will Durkee and Peter Domenici.

Tom, Will, and Peter laid out a rough plan to record an album while attending a bluegrass festival. Days later the group emerged from the studio with Front Porch to Frontier and followed up the recording session with a run of shows up and down the California coast. What started as a short run of five shows in three days, snowballed into an ongoing tour through the West Coast.

[audio:Road Less Traveled.mp3|titles=Road Less Traveled|artists=Great Spirt]
“Road Less Traveled” by Great Spirit

Montreal-based First You Get The Sugar has released its third effort, a brand new EP called Foreign Lands. Visit Soundcloud and Bandcamp to download/stream for FREE.

A prominent thematic thread can be found in the way the five tracks unfold on the new record: alienation, confusion, and a struggle with the dark unknown. However, it’s not all doom and gloom. The ecstasy of making it through the darkness and returning to balance is reflected by the time the record clocks out.

[audio:Foreign Lands.mp3|titles=Foreign Lands|artists=First You Get The Sugar]
“Foreign Lands” by First You Get The Sugar

On October 21, Boy + Kite released their newest EP, Blueprint. You may stream the album via SoundCloud.

Boy + Kite has opened up for acts such as Ume, An Horse, Quiet Company and The Toadies, as well as played at SXSW 2012 and the Center of the Universe Festival in Toronto, CA while hitting the Top 10 Charts on KUT 90.5 in Austin, TX.

The newest three singles, collectively referred to as Blueprint, were a brutal and euphoric release for Jones and company, consisting of Darvin Jones, Puorro, Giuseppe Ponti and Marc Henry. The songs were crafted in their practice space, which sits inside a massive film equipment warehouse, and were then taken to Public Hi-fi Studios in Austin (owned and operated by Jim Eno from Spoon) where tracking commenced. The resulting singles, “Either Way”, “Turned Sideways” and “Touching the Sun” showcase the most balanced work of Boy + Kite’s career.

[audio:Either Way.mp3|titles=Either Way|artists= Boy + Kite]
“Either Way” by Boy + Kite

Born in England, part-Irish, part-Welsh songstress, Lily Lambert, approaches pop music with a breadth of musical history in her blood. Though influences of her motherland and native roots are imbedded in her musical DNA, Lambert has her sights locked on the indie scene stateside. Plus, like other non-conformists such as Bjork and Enya, Lambert is able to put an indelible stamp of originality on her sound.

Her sophomore album So Far sees Lambert departing from the piano pop of her debut, Life of Lily, to pursue a fuller sound that borders on folk-rock and country.

[audio:Pop Culture (Who Cares).mp3|titles=Pop Culture (Who Cares)|artists=Lily Lambert]
“Pop Culture (Who Cares)” by Lily Lambert

Rootsy-alternative outfit led by Canadian singer/songwriter and guitarist Sherri-Anne, Sister Speak, combines captivating vocals and guitar stylings with dynamic beats from drummer Lisa Viegas.

The duo is based in San Diego, CA. Their current line-up features the addition of Tolan Shaw’s soulful vocal harmonies and catchy guitar riffs augmented by Meir Shitrit’s warm Gibson electric and the bass grooves of Jacob Miranda. The sunny city welcomed Sister Speak with a “Best New Artist” nomination at the 2011 San Diego Music Awards, and recently a 2014 nomination for Best Pop Album.

The band released their album Rise Up For Love via The Vinyl District on September 23. The single “Chicago Dream” has been compared to “Mazzy Star doing a futuristic take on Stevie Nicks’ work with The Heartbreakers.”

Having toured nationally, Sister Speak has recently opened for major artists Chris Isaak, Air Supply and Henry Kapono, appeared on various TV and radio stations, and played notable venues such as NAMM, Humphrey’s Mainstage in SanDiego, Belly Up Tavern, Hard Rock Cafe Chicago, headlined at Casbah San Diego and Mayne Stage Chicago, and played various festivals throughout the USA and western Canada.

[audio:Chicago Dream.mp3|titles=Chicago Dream|artists=Sister Speak]
“Chicago Dream” by Sister Speak

Indie piano-rock band, Just Walden, is based in Austin, Texas. Just Walden is: Taylor Eicheseer, drums, percussion, guitar, bass; Danny Ferraro, vocals, piano, synthesizers, percussion, acoustic guitar; and Alex Margolin, drums, percussion, synthesizers. Ferraro and Eicheseer met in 2005 while attending Columbia University. The two released a self-titled EP and had a following around campus. After graduation, Alex Margolin joined the line-up.

The band’s latest album, High Street Barton Blues, will be released on October 21. For Just Walden, High Street Barton Blues is a soul-searching experience. Listen and download the single “Romie Knows” for free from SoundCloud.

Some of the material on the album, which is based on Ferraro’s experiences living in Central London, was informed by the harsher elements of coming-of-age, while other songs beam with encouragement and sanctuary.

[audio:Romie Knows.mp3|titles=Romie Knows|artists=Just Walden]
“Romie Knows” by Just Walden