Posts Tagged ‘folk’

Track Review: Chris Cotton - “Going Home”

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August 12, 2008 by Matthew Montgomery

Chris CottonChris Cotton
The Big Sea
“Going Home”

Chris Cotton - “Going Home” | download

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“Going Home” is shocking in its immediacy: a track from Chris Cotton’s latest, due out September 2nd on Little Fish Large Pond Publishing. This vintage-style piece, recalling some of the earliest recorded American folk music, is a refreshing blast from distorted guitars and whining vocals. There’s something strangely enthralling about anachronistic music, isn’t there?

Review: Conor Oberst

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July 27, 2008 by Matthew Montgomery

Conor Oberst’s self-titled release hit shelves August 5th.Conor Oberst
Conor Oberst
Merge Records, 2008

When I first heard Conor Oberst, I was an impressionable 14 year-old in grade nine. Following the recommendation of Bright Eyes by a friend whose musical interests I trusted (“Download ‘The City Has Sex With Itself,’ by Bright Eyes” he told me,) I engaged in musical exploration, learning of a great many styles, genres, and tepid over-classification, all of it new to me.

It wasn’t more than a year after my discovery that I ran into Conor Oberst’s first album he recorded and released: 1993’s cassette-only Water, an uncertain, less-confident release by the man that became, for all intents and purposes, Bright Eyes. He was a young 13 at the time of the release, and it was the first on Lumberjack, which later became the now-influential Saddle Creek Records.

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Released This Week: The OaKs - Songs for Waiting

March 5, 2008 by Matthew Montgomery

The OaKs - <i>Songs for Waiting</i> The OaKs
Songs for Waiting
Self-released
March 4, 2008

The OaKs, previously the subject of a MusicGeek.org spotlight, self-released Songs for Waiting Tuesday. Opening track, “The Two Calls (of Dietrich Bonhoeffer)” — posted below for download and streaming — isn’t rough, and it’s certainly not too soft. The historical narrative, written by one of two founding members, Ryan Costello, is, at the very least, interesting. The arrangements involved in this new release are well planned, providing a listening experience that’s bound to impress.

The OaKs / Photo by Steven Taylor, Courtesy of Fanatic Promotion

The OaKs - “The Two Calls (of Dietrich Bonhoeffer)” | download

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The OaKs - “The Heart is a Lonely Hunter” | download

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Spotlight: Dawn Landes | Female folk artist to embark on month-long tour

February 2, 2008 by Matthew Montgomery

Dawn Landes / Courtesy of Sneak Attack MediaDawn Landes, a Louisville, Kentucky native, performs a certain seductive bluegrass-inflected folk-indie style. Her second album, Fireproof, is set to be released on March 4 via Cooking Vinyl. Landes will be embarking on a month-long tour of the eastern United States starting Feb. 6. Dates are posted after the jump.

“Bodyguard,” posted below, is a nice introduction to the style being exercised by Landes; holding up against the influx of female indie artists doesn’t seem something this musician will find much trouble with.

Dawn Landes — “Bodyguard” | download

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Kaki King announces U.S. tour dates

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January 28, 2008 by Matthew Montgomery

Kaki KingKaki King, the previous subject of a MusicGeek.org spotlight, announced 2008 U.S. tour dates, detailed below. Her entire catalog is essentially made of gold; it’s certainly worth of more than a few listens.

Kaki King — 2 O’Clock | download

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Spotlight: Reed KD

January 28, 2008 by Matthew Montgomery

Reed KD / Courtesy of Fanatic PromotionReed KD, a northern California-based act with a refreshing indie-centric folk-bluegrass-pop style and a penchant for vocals that sound at least a smidgen influenced by Elliott Smith, are set to release The Ashes Bloom on Feb. 12. The album will be released on Dirty Laundry Records. The two tracks posted below, “Empty Bottles” and “Even If I,” are well-written, well-timed pop songs, and they’re certainly worth an attentive listen.

Reed KD — “Empty Bottles” | download

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Reed KD — “Even If I” | download

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An interview with The Raintree

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January 23, 2008 by Paige Watters

The Raintree / Photo courtesy of The RaintreeThe Raintree is a folk/acoustic artist hailing from Phoenix, Arizona. Ryan Osterman, once a member of The Maine, is now a solo artist with an incredible voice and amazing talent. With a hint of influence from artists like Bright Eyes, The Raintree won’t disappoint.

The Raintree — “Pairs” | download

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Who are the main influences on your music?:
Well, honestly, just life and love — the people that bring about the sheer joy and accentuate the beauty in all of my surroundings. My musical influences vary and flux quite a bit and often, but I’ve always been a fan of Third Eye Blind, Goo Goo Dolls, Maria Taylor, Bright Eyes, Stars, Jimmy Eat World, etc. I could go on for a while, so I’ll spare you, but a lot of it has to do with what a band or song reminds me of. I embed memories within each song I listen to. Just about anything could influence me.

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Spotlight: The Grizzly Owls

January 20, 2008 by Matthew Montgomery

The Grizzly Owls The Grizzly Owls perform a bizarre sort of alt-country: it’s certainly an interesting musical perspective, but it’s one that’s often hard to really latch on to. Regardless, this married couple forges ahead, and they end up creating some interesting music. Mind you, it’s not some groundbreaking release they’ve put together with By Night On My Bed, but this is definitely a worthwhile listen. The Grizzly Owls self-released this album on November 13, 2007.

The Grizzly Owls — “Rifles and Hemlines” | download

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The Grizzly Owls — “What’s a Girl To Do?” | download

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An interview with Drew Danburry

March 21, 2007 by Matthew Montgomery

Matthew Montgomery from MusicGeek.org interviewed Drew Danburry after a March 14, 2007 concert in Santa Clara, Utah. Danburry talked about his experience performing in the French Alps, his musical influences, and his thoughts about live music.

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