'Song of the Week': High Highs-"Ivy"

How do you stand out from the thousands of other Brooklyn bands out there? Simple, create an utterly addictive dreamy track like this new one from High Highs called "Ivy." The trio who originally hail from the land down under are readying a new EP which comes out this November 22nd on Small Plates.   

You can give it a listen below and be sure to check out some of their older stuff like the gorgeous, "Open Season."

  High Highs - Ivy by dangervillage



http://highhighs.com/
http://highhighsmusic.bandcamp.com/

Giovanna- "Out In Bold"

At the age of 21 she's already been enlisted on albums by the likes of Mumford & Sons and Noah and The Whale. But on her debut single, the aptly titled, "Out in Bold" Giovanna shows us she's got more than just alt/folk chops. The single hits stores this November 28 on Mi7, with an EP to follow sometime early 2012. Give a listen to this stunner below.

  Out In Bold by Giovanna Online

Lanterns On the Lake- 'Gracious Tide, Take Me Home'

I first found out about these guys back in 07'-08' when stumbling across some free demos they were giving away on their Last FM page. Their dreamy cinematic tunes sucked me in, highlighted by frontwoman Hazel Wilde's dreamy vocals. The UK group recently signed up with label Bella Union and unveiled their debut, Gracious Tide, Take Me Home. Several tracks like, "If I've Been Unkind" and "I Love You, Sleepyhead" that are from previous EP's were re-recorded for the album. Speaking on the album's lyrical content and water inspired title, Hazel Wilde had this to say..."A lot of lyrics were inspired by me and Paul moving back to the coast where i grew up, after we'd been living near the city centre. They're also memories of growing up here, the feeling of homesickness, and the stories of people around us and of the sea. The title 'Gracious Tide, Take Me Home' seemed  to sum up all of the themes."
Give a listen and get swept in below.

Lanterns On The Lake - Keep On Trying from Bella Union on Vimeo.

  Lanterns On The Lake - You're Almost There by Bella Union
http://www.lanternsonthelake.com/
https://twitter.com/#!/lanternstalk

Nicole Atkins- Free Live EP

Nicole Atkins & The Black Sea just released a live EP, Till Dawn, which is available as a free download for a limited time. The show was recorded this past July at the Music Hall of Williamsburg in Brooklyn.

You can visit Nicole's bandcamp page to download or just check it out below.

http://nicoleatkins.bandcamp.com/
http://twitter.com/#!/nicoleatkins

The Bailey Hounds- "Along the Gallows" (free download)

Philly band, The Bailey Hounds just released their first single, "Along the Gallows" off their forthcoming debut of the same name. The album drops this Oct. 30th, and if you act fast you can grab the song as a free download via the bands website or below.




visit http://thebaileyhounds.com/

Matthew Ryan-'I Recall Standing As Though Nothing could Fall'

It's been a pleasure watching Matthew Ryan grow as an artist over the past 14 years.  I've  been on his bandwagon since back in '97 when his first LP, Mayday came out, and somewhere around 13 albums later I still find myself going back and listening to his work on a steady basis. If your into songwriting then he's your man, Ryan has always been adept at capturing a mood, a time, the heartache and struggles of the everyman.
His new disc, I Recall Standing as Though Nothing Could Fall is out now via the DearFutureCollective, and shows Ryan take on a minimalist approach to the arrangements, letting his vocals, guitar, and splashes of electronics set the albums tone. It all suits it beautifully as you can hear from standout tracks like, "The Spinning Room" and "Summer in the South" which you can check out below.

Also if your in the NYC area this Nov. 16th & 17th Matthew will be taking part in a Replacements tribute at Bowery Electric which includes performers like Nicole Atkins, and Brian Fallon (Gaslight Anthem).
Visit matthewryanonline for all of his upcoming tour info and more.

Get to Know: Gold Leaves

Seattle musician Grant Olson's new project, Gold Leaves has been a labor of love. Maybe best known as part of the folk duo Arthur & Yu, he began the solo work nearly four years ago. But Olson had to scrap the bulk of his early efforts after a bag containing his laptop and notebooks were stolen. Well there must be proof in the saying that good thing come to those who wait, as his new LP, The Ornament is a smooth bohemian wall of harmonies that hasn't sounded this good since Fleet Foxes debut.  
Olson is joined on the disc by Jason Quever of Papercuts, Thao Ngyuen (Thao and the Get Down Stay Down), Amy Blaschke, and members of the Moondoggies, who all contributed backing vocals.
Give a listen to the title track below, and go see him out on tour with the equally talented A.A. Bondy later this month.

Gold Leaves-"The Ornament"

10/26 Los Angeles, CA Silverlake Lounge 

11/01 Salt Lake City, UT Urban Lounge *

11/02 Denver, CO Hi-Dive *
11/04 Omaha, NE The Waiting Room *
11/05 Minneapolis, MN 7th Street Entry *
11/07 Madison, WI High Noon Saloon *
11/08 Chicago, IL Lincoln Hall *
11/10 Nashville, TN Mercy Lounge *
11/11 Little Rock, AR Stickys Chicken Shack *
11/12 Dallas, TX The Prophet Bar *
11/13 Austin, TX The Parish *
11/15 Oxford, MS Proud Larry's *
11/16 Atlanta, GA The Earl *
11/17 Knoxville, TN Pilot Light *
11/18 Charlottesville, VA The Southern *
11/19 Washington, DC Rock and Roll Hotel *
11/21 Philadelphia, PA First Unitarian Church *
11/22 New York, NY Bowery Ballroom *

 * = w/ A.A Bondy

GoldLeaves on Facebook

New Music: Young Hunting-"Rust"

A beautiful slow builder from the chilled out L.A. band, Young Hunting. The previously unreleased song is off their as of yet untitled debut. You can purchase it and check out more at their bandcamp page below.




http://younghunting.bandcamp.com/
Young Hunting on Twitter

'Song of the Week': Blind Pilot- "New York"

This weeks 'Song of the Week' comes from the Portland band, Blind Pilot. The band recently released their latest studio album,  We Are the Tide which features this sweeping stunner, "New York."


BLIND PILOT-"NEW YORK"
I hear the train all night, sound of it's wind blowing through
A subtle lapse... and I have a job to do
Walking these cars walking all to sleep, to get to you
But I don't feel you stir beside me, and you're not in my morning hours
Some ties are made to break; some stocks grow high and green to rot away
And feel the weight
And these lines tell the truth, these city veins answer all they do
So, could you keep in the poses, could you keep me in the sound
I got wise and I got old
Not once, not once did I fold
So don't you now
Maybe you bet on me, while we were still young enough to know, to believe

But for every year you took, for every soft breath of love and learn,
Believe me
And don't keep me like you have me, and don't kiss me like you don't
I got wise and I got old
Not once, not once did I fold
So don't you now
Some land holds a home; some of my years only hold, me to roam
But I tell myself it's true, you see a home you see a man, you see it too
And I say don't you know you have her? Go on kiss her now you boy
I got wise and I got old
Not once, not once did I fold
So don't you now (2X)

http://blindpilotmusic.com/

Fanfarlo-"replicate" (get 3 free remixes)

They don't have a new album coming out until early next year, but UK band, Fanfarlo already dropped their first single, "Replicate" on us a few weeks back.  The track gets the remix treatment as the group just put up 3 new remixes on their website which they're currently giving away for free.
They also have a select number of tour dates scheduled which you can check out below.
Replicate. Replicate. Replicate. by Fanfarlo

 Fanfarlo On Tour: 
10/25 - Boston, MA - Brighton Music Hall 
10/27 - New York, NY - Mercury Lounge 
10/29 - Washington, DC - Red Palace 
10/30 - Brooklyn, NY - Glasslands 
11/1 - Philadelphia, PA - Johnny Brendas
  Fanfarlo - Replicate by Pretty Much Amazing 

more at http://www.fanfarlo.com/

Gem Club- "twins"

Don't know much about this Massachusetts duo, Christopher Barnes and Kristen Drymala aka Gem Club besides recently finding this gorgeous piano ballad "Twins." They just released their debut full length 'Breakers' this past week on Hardly Art, along with a brand new video for the above mentioned "Twins" directed by Brianna Olson.
You can stream Gem Club's album in full over at soundcloud now. 

 

http://www.iamgemclub.com/

http://twitter.com/iamgemclub   

We Are Augustines- "Book of James" acoustic

I've been a huge fan of these guys since their work in the now defunct Pela. Frontman Billy McCarthy and Bass player Eric Sanderson re-formed as We Are Augustines and their latest album Rise Ye Sunken Ships has been on repeat all Summer long into the Fall now. The LP is an emotional & heartfelt journey that allows a window into McCarthy's family tribulations with his younger brother James' addiction & mental illness, which is highlighted by the track "Book of James." McCarthy's writing is intimate yet raw, and the disc is a definite early contender for my Album of the Year.
I recently found this great acoustic version of the song, "Book of James" via the site ManchesterSceneWipe and wanted to share  it.

We Are Augustines - "Book Of James"

On a park bench sat a crimson beating heart

and behind him the girls played double dutch in the park

The sun began to burn his snow white skin

I guess your either headin' somewhere or endin up somewhere..

Storm clouds began to form in his head

and crisscrossed his mind like a restless angry ocean

And the howling of hardship and heartache

kneeled and grinned in his face

He stood there in his boots unable to move

And i came here to tell you that i love you

And here lies my green eyes

rolled back in my head, but they're alive

and all these words can all get spoken

just know we tried

and you're forgiven

He made his way down the boulevard

near the 99 cent stores and garbage in the yards

And he began sing

about the crickets and the backroads where we used to play

I guess your either headin' somewhere or endin up somewhere..

cause I tried the bible, tried the bottle, tried the needle, tried to

love people

And in the end there aint much to say

And in the end there aint much to say anyway

And i stand here in my shoes, unable to move

my hat in my hands, at the bottom of the ocean.

And here lies my green eyes

rolled back in my head but they're alive

and all the words can all get spoken

just know we tried

and you're forgiven

  Headlong Into The Abyss by We Are Augustines


For more info & tour dates visit http://www.weareaugustines.com/

You won't say 'yuck'

Formed just over a year ago, Yuck is a quartet (sometimes five piece) of members from across the globe. Daniel and Max (London), Mariko (Hiroshima), & Jonny from (New Jersey). The group has been generating some buzz since back in March of last year when they released their debut single "Georgia," which led to tours with the likes of Teenage Fanclub, Modest Mouse, and Times New Viking.
The bands fuzzy early 90's vibe undoubtedly will bring back good memories of the days when bands like Jesus & Mary Chain and Sonic Youth ruled the world, while creating their own cred in the newly formed indie landscape.
The band has just begun their final massive US tour of 2011, so give a listen below and click the links at the bottom to get all the show info.


  Soothe Me by Yuck
  Georgia by Yuck


http://yuckband.blogspot.com/
http://www.myspace.com/yuckband

catch Trixie Whitley live in NYC tuesd. 9/27

You might know talented singer, Trixie Whitley from some of her more recent work playing in Black Dub, a collaboration featuring  mega producer, Daniel Lanois and drummer, Brian Blade. She also  has some limited solo work out there and I had the pleasure to see her live back in 08'-09' sometime. As powerful and soulful a voice as you'll ever hear, Trixie just armed with a piano and a guitar wowed me that night.  If your in the NYC area you can see for yourself, as she's performing this Tuesday, Sept. 27th at Rockwoodmusic Hall.

In the meantime you can check out a new video she posted for the song "Oh the Joy" as well as "I'd Rather Go Blind" w/ Black Dub below.

visit Trixie Whitley.com

unreleased Radiohead- “Staircase" from SNL

From the bands performance on Saturday Night Live this past weekend. You can also watch them on tonights Stephen Colbert which will be one full hour with the band.



more at http://radiohead.com/

Sigur Rós new live film & double LP coming soon

This November 15th, Sigur Rós will release their first-ever concert film along with a double live album titled, Inni. The set will be available in the following formats; double CD + DVD (includes 4 extra songs not featured on the live album), double CD + Blu Ray (includes 4 extra songs not featured on the live album), Clear 150 gram vinyl (3 LPs), a Digital edition,  and also a Deluxe edition.  
Inni was captured by the band over two nights at London's Alexandra Palace at the close of their 08' world tour. 

You can find a free audio download of "Festival" via Sigur Rós' website by clicking here.


Sigur Rós: Festival (Live) from Sigur Rós on Vimeo.

WE'RE BACK.....

 
Well after a very VERY long hiatus the blog is officially back up and running again. Personally it's been a rough year and a half or so since we last spoke, having to deal with illnesses in the family, deaths, and the ever fun career changes.
But it's time to get back to the things that make you happy in life, and in the end I always turn back to music.
So hopefully we'll have some new & exciting things coming your way, a few new interviews and some un-aired 'Field Recordings' performances too. 
As always thanks for stoppin' by and check in whenever you can.

-Steve

A.A. Bondy- Believers

There's plenty of ways to describe the type of music that A.A. Bondy performs; Americana, folk, singer-songwriter, hell maybe even alt-country. All I know is that he's flat out producing some of the best the genre has to offer over the past few years. Bondy's acclaimed 2009 album, When The Devil's Loose was high on our year end top 10 list, and this week he released his follow-up, 'Believers', which he recorded in spring 2011 by Rob Schnapf at Mant/Kingsize Studios in Glassell Park, CA. 

 If you hurry you can grab yourself a free MP3 download of the ominous track "The Surfer King," which premiered as NPR's Song Of The Day http://www.npr.org/2011/09/14/140436143/download-a-a-bondys-cool-menace-in-surfer-king.

A.A. Bondy on tour:

SEPT. 28 SAN DIEGO, CA THE CASBAH

SEPT. 29 LOS ANGELES, CA BOOTLEG THEATER

OCT. 1 SAN FRANCISCO, CA SLIM'S

OCT. 4 PORTLAND, OR MISSISSIPPI STUDIOS

OCT. 6 SEATTLE, WA TRACTOR TAVERN

OCT. 7 VANCOUVER, BC MEDIA CLUB

NOV. 1 SALT LAKE CITY, UT URBAN LOUNGE

NOV. 2 DENVER, CO HI DIVE

NOV. 4 OMAHA, NE  THE WAITING ROOM

NOV. 5 MINNEAPOLIS, MN 7^TH STREET ENTRY

NOV. 7 MADISON, WI HIGH NOON

NOV. 8 CHICAGO, IL LINCOLN HALL

NOV. 10 NASHVILLE, TN MERCY LOUNGE

NOV. 11 LITTLE ROCK, AR STICKYZ CHICKEN SHACK

NOV. 12 DALLAS, TX PROPHET BAR

NOV. 13 AUSTIN, TX THE PARISH

NOV. 15 OXFORD, MS PROUD LARRY'S

NOV. 16 ATLANTA, GA THE EARL

NOV. 17 KNOXVILLE, TN PILOT LIGHT

NOV. 18 CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA THE SOUTHERN

NOV. 19 WASHINGTON, DC ROCK 'N ROLL HOTEL

NOV. 21 PHILADELPHIA, PA FIRST UNITARIAN CHURCH

NOV. 22 NEW YORK, NY BOWERY BALLROOM

http://aabondy.co/

Stream Sarah Jaffe's new album

Sarah Jaffe's new LP, The Way Sound Leaves a Room, hits stores next week, Sept. 27. The album is a CD/DVD collection that is meant to bridge the gap between her last, Suburban Nature and her upcoming 2012 album.  The CD features covers &  demos including a slowed down, piano-driven “Clementine” Drake’s “Shut it Down” and Cold War Kids’ “Louder Than Ever.”

On the DVD you can find a live set from the Wyly Theatre in Dallas and a documentary directed by Jon Todd Collins, which follows Jaffe’s songwriting process at home.

You can stream the album over at Paste now. 

 

 

the head & the heart- "Rivers and Roads" live from ACL

Check out the magic that is The Head and The Heart live.
Their self titled debut is out now via Subpop, and to check out all their upcoming tour dates you can click here.  

Youth Lagoon- stream debut album now

There's been a lot of buzz following 22 year old Trevor Powers out of  Boise, Idaho. Powers who  records at home in his bedroom under the moniker Youth Lagoon, is about to release his debut LP, 'The Year Of Hibernation' which is set for release this Sept. 27 on Fat Possum (and on Lefse in Europe).
Speaking about the project and the new LP Powers has this to say ...."Youth Lagoon isn't me. It's merely a part of me. I was in and out of different bands in high school and always tried to define myself by what music I played. I tried to find a sense of meaning by being in a band. But it wasn't until this last year - when I realized I was more than just music - that I was able to create music that means something to me. And that is Youth Lagoon." On the vibe of the new album Powers explains ... "For my whole life I've dealt with extreme anxiety. Not anxiety about passing a test or somewhat normal things, but weird.. bizarre things. Things that only I know. I sometimes feel like I'm literally being eaten up inside. So I started writing these songs. Not just songs about my anxiety, but about my past and my present. Songs about memories, and all those feelings that those bring. I know that if I can be honest about what is inside my mind, there will be others that will be able to relate to it."

See if you can relate, stream Youth Lagoon- 'The Year of Hibernation' over on Spin.com (http://www.spin.com/articles/album-premiere-youth-lagoons-breakout-pop) now.

Youth Lagoon - Montana from Tyler T Williams on Vimeo.


YOUTH LAGOON on tour:
09/20 Ames, IA The Maintenance Shop *
09/21 Kansas City, MO Record Bar *
09/22 Urbana, IL Pygmalion Festival
09/23 Bloomington, IN The Bishop
9/24 Cincinnati, OH Midpoint Music Festival
09/25 Cleveland, OH Beachland Tavern *
09/27 Atlanta, GA The Masquerade *
09/28 Charlotte, NC Snug Harbor *
09/29 Washington, DC DC9 *
09/30 Brooklyn, NY Glasslands *#
10/03 Boston, MA Great Scott *
10/04 Philadelphia, PA Kung Fu Necktie *
10/06 Grand Rapids, MI Calvin College *
10/07 Chicago, IL Empty Bottle *
10/08 Minneapolis, MN 7th St. Entry *
* = w/ Gardens & Villa # = w/ Gem Club

http://www.facebook.com/youthlagoon

http://www.twitter.com/youthlagoon 

http://youthlagoon.bandcamp.com/