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Check out this Brooklyn Based post featuring the lovely new tune, "When You Let Your Hair Down to Your Shoulders," along with a brief interview with the man himself. 
U.S. Royalty - 
Snowblink - 
Young Circles - 
Artist: Twin ShadowTwin Shadow - Castles In The Snow Directed by Jamie Harley from Twin Shadow on Vimeo.
Artist: In Grenada
Artist: The Migrant 
Artist: Jump Back Jake 
Artist: Young Man 
Artist: Elsinore 
Artist: Lost in the Trees 
Artist: Stornoway
Artist: Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. 
Artist: Clubfeet
Artist: Frontier Ruckus 
Artist: Dax Riggs
It would be easy to mistake the Silver Seas as having arrived via time machine from 35 years ago rather than forming this past decade. Though the band has only been releasing music since 2004, they seem to have more in common with the likes of Steely Dan, Jackson Browne or any number of 70s pop-rock icons than with their current peers. The Nashville group navigates the pop music of their chosen decade much like The Clientele do the 60s, seeking not to combine classic influences with modern trends, but rather emulating the past right down to the instrumental flourishes and production details. Yet somehow, though the Silver seas remain firmly entrenched in a slice of musical history, their music comes across as much more than a simple copy of their obvious influences. Their third album, Chateau Revenge, is a lovely classic pop record featuring smooth grooves, fantastic melodies, and fine songwriting that makes this a must-listen in any decade.
Steel Train is a name that isn't completely unknown, I suppose, but I find it is mentioned less often than I would expect, at least now that I'm familiar with the band's music. Though I'd heard of the group before a couple years ago, it wasn't until the recent release of their third and self-titled album that I took the time to listen to an entire record. One time through and I was hooked; Steel Train's brand of pop rock is impossibly catchy, consistently energetic and draws from a variety of influences and styles. I haven't yet made my way through their catalog, but I'm certainly eager to after this fine introduction.
I'd never heard the term "folkestra" before I saw it on indie band Hey Marseilles' MySpace page, but it's about the perfect way to describe the group's chosen genre. This Seattle collective, seven members strong, seamlessly mixes elements of both traditional folk and orchestral pop (among other things) with consistently gorgeous and melodic results on their upcoming album, To Travels & Trunks, due out June 29th. This appropriately titled debut indeed travels over a variety of musical landscapes during its hour length, ranging from soaring epics to lovely instrumental interludes and utilizing the enormous collective talent of the musicians involved. My favorites include the string-led ode to exploration "Rio," the unbelievably beautiful "Calabasas," and the multifaceted, emotional "Cannonball," which begins as an acoustic ballad before exploding into a catchy rock anthem. However, while these songs with more traditional structures will catch your ear immediately, the intimate beauty found within less usual cuts--like the meandering "Cities"--is what makes To Travels & Trunks a truly absorbing and thoroughly interesting listen.
A songwriter since 8 and a guitarist at 16, it still took a while for Chris Pureka to get her musical career off the ground. But a little maturity and experience seem to have payed off; since 2004 this talented musician has released three acclaimed albums, and her latest--entitled How I Learned to See in the Dark--has really made an impression on me. Pureka makes gorgeous and often haunting Americana music, relying on her expressive voice and compelling songwriting to stand out from among her many like-minded peers. At times Pureka sounds withdrawn and delicate, but these quiet spells don't last for long before she elevates her voice to a powerful croon that's truly unforgettable. Her songs are not overly earnest and they aren't often focused on traditional (or at least obvious) relationship issues, but her tunes are more compelling because of that, and with a backdrop of slide guitar, violin, and simple percussion, her lyrics are imbued with a gripping emotional energy.
My personal favorites include the epic opener "Fifty Fourteeners," the lovely ballad "Sheet Stealer!" and the intriguing narrative "Nanda Devi," though it's hard to go wrong on Seven Summits. To start, I recommend downloading the single "Outside" below, or checking out the band on MySpace to hear more. Definitely don't pass this album pass you by, it's spectacular stuff..JPG)
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