Burn The Bowery 'Top 12 Albums of 2012' (#'s 12-6)

Well better late than never I guess. Here's my long delayed top 12 albums of 2012 list.
Personally it's been a year of a lot of ups and downs, and major changes in my life, which culminated in December with a move from the NY/NJ area to Austin, Tx.
As always I just want to say a big thanks to all that stopped by, left a comment, re-blogged, or got in touch in some shape or form. Hope you all had a great year and that even bigger & better things are out there for everyone in 2013.


#12 ALABAMA SHAKES- BOYS & GIRLS
Favorite track: "I Found You" (listen)
other standouts: "Hold On" "I Ain't the Same" & "Heartbreaker"

#11 DAVID RAMIREZ- APOLOGIES
Favorite track: "Stick Around"(watch)
other standouts: "Chapter II" "Goodbye" & "Find the Light"

#10 COLD SPECKS- I PREDICT A GRACEFUL EXPLOSION
Favorite track: "Blank Maps" (listen)
other standouts: "Holland" "Winter Solstice" & "The Mark"

# 9 TENNIS- YOUNG & OLD
favorite track: "Origins" (watch)
other standouts: "Never to Part" "Traveling" & "Take Me to Heaven"

#8 EVENING HYMS- SPECTRAL DUSK
favorite track: "Asleep in the Pews" (listen)
other standouts: "Arrows" "Spirit in the Sky" & "Cabin in the Burn"

#7 ALT-J - AN AWESOME WAVE
favorite track: "Tessellate" (watch)
other standouts: "Breezeblocks" "Matilda" & "Something Good"

#6 THE WOODEN SKY- EVERY CHILD A DAUGHTER EVERY MOON A SUN
favorite track: "It Gets Old to Be Alone" (listen)
Other standouts: "Child of the Valley" "Bald Naked & Red" & "Malibu Rum"

....stay tuned for #'s 1-5 coming soon.

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New Video: Cold Specks-"Blank Maps"

I don't know if it's possible to fall in love with Cold Specks music anymore than I already am, but with each new little discovery of her music I find myself more amazed. The latest track to blow me away is "Blank Maps" which she just released a new video for that was directed by Olivier Groulx. "Blank Maps" appears on the double A-side seven-inch single, which also features the stunner "Winter Solstice." It's out now digitally on iTunes and physically on May 15th.  

Her upcoming LP, I Predict a Graceful Explosion hits stores this May 22nd via Mute Records





http://coldspecks.com/

Song of the Week: Cold Specks- "Winter Solstice"

A few weeks back I spoke about Cold Specks, the project of Canadian singer, Al Spx and her upcoming album, I Predict a Graceful Explosion. The new LP comes out this May 22nd via Mute Records/Arts & Crafts, and listening to the music of Cold Specks I can't help but think how aptly titled the new album truly is. Armed with a powerful and intimately soulful voice Spx's tunes have a beautiful slow building quality about them that just draws you in. She recently premiered the first single off the upcoming LP, a song titled, "Winter Solstice."
Here's a little blurb about the new track (Via The Globe and Mail): The album’s first single, Winter Solstice, is a graceful, stirring sort of field holler, concerning mortality and the passing of torches to a younger generation. Spx names Sister Rosetta Tharpe and Sam Cooke as influences. “Doom soul is how describe my music to people,” she says. “It seems to make sense to them.” 



http://www.coldspecks.com/

Cold Specks releasing Debut Full Length

A few weeks ago I heard the term 'Death Gospel' for the very first time when hearing & reading people describe the music of Adam Arcuragi. Now we have something called 'Doom Soul' when speaking of Canadian singer Al Spx, aka Cold Specks.  She recently signed up with Mute Records and she'll be releasing her debut album, I Predict A Graceful Expulsion this May 22nd. The disc was recorded in London where Spx is now based, and it saw her work with a group of musicians, including regular PJ Harvey collaborator Rob Ellis who helped out with arrangements and percussion.
Cold Specks name comes from a line in James Joyce’s Ulysses (“Born all in the dark wormy earth, cold specks of fire, evil, lights shining in the darkness), and Spx cites influences from Lomax Field Recordings and James Carr to Bill Callahan and Tom Waits.
Check out the haunting track, "Holland" below, and visit her website to see all the upcoming tour dates which include performances with Great Lake Swimmers.