First Aid Kit – Emmylou

A few years ago, two Swedish sisters posted a cover of Fleet Foxes’ Tiger Mountain Peasant Song on YouTube and their name, First Aid Kit, spread quickly across the internet.

Now, some four years later, the two sisters, Klara and Johanna Söderberg released their sophomore album, The Lion’s Roar. From that first Fleet Foxes’ cover, you could tell these girls had the harmonies, voices and talent to be more than just a YouTube sensation. Their first album, The Big Black and The Blue came out in 2010, and was a solid set of folk songs, that showed off that the girls had, in addition to the harmonies, solid songwriting to back it up.

But take one listen to The Lion’s Roar, and their first album sounds simple and primitive. With their second full length (produced by Mike Mogis), the sisters have settled into a beautiful, and amazing folk sound that sounds fuller, bigger and more developed than before. They have crafted a sound that fits perfectly into two distinct spheres of current folk music: into the modern take of American Folk music, and the revival of the folk music of the 70s. Take one listen to Emmylou and hear to Johanna and Klara, both kids of the 90s, encompass the folk songs of the 70s into one tune. “I’ll be your Emmylou and I’ll be your June, if you’ll be my Gram and my Johnny too. No I’m not asking much of you, just sing, little darling sing with me.”

If Emmylou is the warm 70s desert track, the title track, The Lion’s Roar, is the melancholy, beating, dark track that showcases the contrasting side of their sound. ”But don’t you come here and say I didn’t warn you. About the way your world can alter.” And on the chorus, the two cry, “I’m a goddamn coward, but then again so are you.”

These girls have definitely flown under the radar in the folk scene in the last few years, but with this one album they’ve jumped up to the upper tier of bands making some great folk music today. I’m going to be disappointed if I don’t see these girls on the Newport Folk Fest lineup this summer. Grab a copy of The Lion’s Roar immediately. And you can catch the sisters at Brighton Music Hall on 4/2. Hope to see you there.

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Saint Motel has recently released a new video for their fantastic track “At Least I Have Nothing,” a synthpop / rock track that has a cinematic almost Tron-like sound. Its a track that I originally talked about back in November, and one that I still go back to again and again. The rock / synth soundscape is irresistible, and if you haven’t grabbed the 7″ now’s the time.

Grab the 7?

Beach Fossils – Shallow

Beach Fossils’ laid-back lofi feel is one that seems quite carefree. Their newest track here “Shallow,” is obviously a guitar led jam where the vocals take a back seat as they seem to drift away in time as they reverberate through your ears. It’s a nice, rolling track that encourages the listener to stop and relax. The track comes from a new 7″ Shallow out on 2/21 on Captured Tracks.

Adam Arcuragi – The Well

This being my first album I’ve heard of Philadelphia’s Adam Arcuragi, I was extremely surprised at the depth and breadth of his music. There is something magical about this album, the way Adam sings, the carefully placed subtleties on the keys, horns, plucking, it all works in a way to highlight Arcuragi’s sombre raspy tones. There’s a sort of playful teasing between some of the more tender moments on this album and the flat out rabble rousing that creates a balance of sing-along, infectious music to the more introspective contemplative folk.

The album, recorded over a 12 day period in Lexington KY with Duane Lundy (Jim James, Daniel Martin Moore, Ben Sollee) reflects a lot of Arcuragi’s influences, including somewhere in the range of Hymnals to Bob Dylan, one can also hear a bit of Springsteen in his voice as well as his music. The term “Death Gospel,” has been thrown around, and I’m finding it pretty accurate and hard to not use. Though I don’t want it to seem like the entire album is a sombre one, because it really is not.

What sets this record apart is in its contrast. Arcuragi has found a way to be both poetic and graceful in his use of lyrics and the use of choir elements and on the other side he has the ability to rely on his voice to create a rousing, hollering, sing-along with all that goes with it (huge pounding rhythms see, Oh I See). Further, his songs are skillfully written and evoke a sense of soul, they feel a bit spiritual, without feeling too dense. It’s a great balance that keeps you coming back to it. This is one album above anything I’ve heard in this very young year, as it touches the soul, rips it out, and sometimes just rocks you to your core, that you must have.

Its an album, I loved from the beginning, and am glad to have him here later this week to talk about the album, and about his upcoming tour. See you on Friday?

Buy Like a fire that consumes all before it…

ADAM ARCURAGI TOUR

January 31 Café Bourbon Street Columbus, OH
February 1 Garfield Artworks Pittsburgh, PA
February 2 Union Pool Brooklyn, NY
February 3 PA’s Lounge Boston, MA
February 4 Café Nine New Haven, CT
February 6 Kung Fu Necktie Philadelphia, PA
February 7 IOTA Washington, DC
February 9 Green Lantern Lexington, KY
February 11 MOTR Pub Cincinnati, OH
February 12 The End Nashville, TN
February 14 The Earl Atlanta, GA

Bowerbirds – In the Yard

Warm, gooey, golden melodies, coming straight from NC’s Bowerbirds the second cut from their upcoming album The Clearing, which is out 3/6/12 (awesome date). This being the second track, we’re already aware of the first nine minutes of this album. I’m extremely excited about this one, its a gorgeous mix of tenderly plucked strings and a core of vocal harmonies that are really wonderful. Get excited for this album, and a huge NA tour coming up.

Tour:
Sat. March 17 — Carrboro, NC @ Cat’s Cradle
Sun. March 18 — Asheville, NC @ Grey Eagle w/ Mandolin Orange
Mon. March 19 — Charlottesville, VA @ The Southern w/ Dry the River
Wed. March 21 — Washington, DC @ Black Cat w/ Dry the River
Thu. March 22 — Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda’s w/ Dry the River
Fri. March 23 — New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom w/ Dry the River
Sat. March 24 — Boston, MA @ Paradise w/ Dry the River
Mon. March 26 — Montreal, QC @ La Sala Rossa w/ Dry the River
Tue. March 27 — Toronto, ON @ The Garrison w/ Dry the River
Thu. March 29 — Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall w/ Dry the River
Fri. March 30 – Iowa City, IA @ The Mill (Mission Creek Festival) w/ Sharon Van Etten
Sat. March 31 — Minneapolis, MN @ Cedar Cultural Centre w/ Dry the River
Tue. April 3 — Seattle, WA @ The Crocodile w/ Dry the River
Wed. April 4 — Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge w/ Dry the River
Fri. April 6 — San Francisco, CA @ The Independent w/ Dry the River
Sat. April 7 — Los Angeles, CA @ Troubadour w/ Dry the River
Sun. April 8 — San Diego, CA @ Casbah w/ Dry the River
Wed. April 11 — Austin, TX @ The Parish w/ Dry the River
Thu. April 12 — Dallas, TX @ The Loft w/ Dry the River
Sat. April 14 — Birmingham, AL @ The Bottletree w/ Mandolin Orange
Sun. April 15 — Atlanta, GA @ The Earl w/ Mandolin Orange

Here’s my first mixtape of the year.  Its chock full of songs that I’ve fallen in love with over the last 30 days or so. A lot of these songs come from albums that I’m extremely excited about (Yellow Ostrich, Delta Spirit, Ben Kweller, Diamond Rugs, Bowerbirds, Tennis) so its a great precursor to some fantastic music we’ll enjoy over the next 320 days. Hope you enjoy.

Playlist:

1. Guards – Do It Again
2. Adam Arcuragi – The Well
3. Plants & Animals – Lightshow
4. Yellow Ostrich – Marathon Runner
5. Bowerbirds – Tuck the Darkness In
6. Peasant – The Flask
7. Ben Kweller – Mean to Me
8. Harriet – I Slept With All Your Mothers
9. Delta Spirit – California
10. Diamond Rugs – Gimme A Beer
11. Tennis – My Better Self
12. Young Hines – Rainy Day
13. Bailiff – In the Reverie
14. Night Beds – Ramona
15. Atlas Genius – Trojans
16. Buxton – Boy of Nine
17. Herman Dune – Tell Me Something I Don’t Know
18. Fort Frances – The Lowlands
19. Barna Howard – Promise I Won’t Laugh
20. Big Deal – Chair

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Emily Wells – Passenger

Emily Wells is a classically trained violinist whose penchant for hip-hop styled production has nabbed a brand new record deal from Partisan Records for her great ability to create hauntingly beautiful compositions using her voice, violin, synthesizers and loops to create a sort of orchestral sound that is pretty damn unique. Her track “Passenger,” leaped out at me, its really something quite different and has a fantastic chilled out vibe.

Her upcoming record, Mama, debuts on Partisan on April 10th.

Upcoming Emily Wells Live Dates
Saturday, February 18th – Los Angeles, CA @ The Echo (Early Show, doors @ 6pm)
Wednesday, March 14th-Saturday March 17th – Austin, TX @ SXSW
Thursday, March 22nd – Indianapolis, IN @ White Rabbit (w. Echomakerdoors)
Monday, April 9th – New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom (Album Release Show)

Tennis – My Better Self

The much anticipated second album from Denver-based Tennis, Young and Old, is set for release February 14, 2012 on Fat Possum Records. What better day to fall in love with this band all over again. I can’t say enough about how I enjoy the lo-fi sugary sweet and breezy bedroom pop songs that Tennis has put out to date. With this second album coming out it only fuels the fire for similar hype. I’m digging this second released single, it really brings me straight back to the first album, and the added keys rounds out the sound a bit more.

This is the second single from Damien Jurado’s upcoming release Maraqopa.  It’s an elegant sound, as the layers of sound sort of wash over your ears.  The gentle basslines, tender strumming, and Jurado’s subtle shivered voice make this one of the more touching sounding tracks I’ve heard in a while.

Order (out 2/21): Maraqopa

Tour:

04/13/12 San Francisco, CA: Bottom of the Hill w/ Peter Wolf Crier
04/14/12 Los Angeles, CA: Bootleg Theater w/ Peter Wolf Crier
04/15/12 San Diego, CA: Soda Bar w/ Peter Wolf Crier
04/17/12 Denver, CO: Hi-Dive w/ Peter Wolf Crier
04/18/12 Salt Lake City, UT: Velour w/ Peter Wolf Crier
04/19/12 Boise, ID: Neurolux w/ Peter Wolf Crier
04/21/12 Vancouver, BC: Biltmore Cabaret w/ Peter Wolf Crier
04/22/12 Portland, OR: Holocene w/ Peter Wolf Crier
05/16/12 Chicago, IL: Schubas w/ JBM
05/17/12 Pittsburgh, PA: Warhol Museum w/ JBM
05/18/12 Boston, MA: RADIO w/ JBM
05/19/12 New York, NY: Mercury Lounge w/ JBM
05/20/12 Philadelphia, PA: Johnny Brenda’s w/ JBM
05/21/12 Washington DC: Black Cat w/ JBM
05/22/12 Raleigh, NC: Baracade w/ JBM
05/23/12 Atlanta, GA: The Earl w/ JBM
05/25/12 Nashville, TN: The Basement w/ JBM
05/26/12 Bloomington, IN: Russian Recordings w/ JBM

Check out the new track from Dr. Dog off their rapidly approaching Feb 7th release of Be the Void. “Lonesome,” a rickety track with gang chorals begging you to sing along and exclaim… “What does it take to be lonesome? Nothing at all!” The ramshackle sound of slide guitars, and the sing songy style of this track really whets the appetite for the album.

Look for it in 2 weeks from Anti Records