Teddy Thompson’s “In My Arms,” the first single off of his new album ‘A Piece Of What You Need,’ out now. The new disc features 11 original songs produced by Marius DeVries, long time Bjork, David Gray and Rufus Wainwright collaborator. Teddy is the son of British folk icons Richard and Linda Thompson. Watch for a cameo from Teddy’s pal Rufus Wainwright, dressed like Elvis and jamming on the organ. Thanks to M:M:B reader Chris Taillie for the heads up on this one.
Blues-infused garage rock from Vancouver, on the road in America making their way from WA to NYC and back this month. Thanks to M:M:B reader Meredith for this one.
Occasionally channeling the energy of young Bruce Springsteen, other times the delicate vocals of Jeff Tweedy, Jennings has quietly crafted an Americana masterpiece with Holy Tulsa Thunder. It’s Nebraska through a Being There kaleidoscope. It’s a late night requiem for the lost stomping grounds of youth that forever stand tall in our memories. It’s a drinking record. Pour yourself a whiskey and give it a spin!
Beau Jennings in the Press:
“The main constant in the band’s MO is singer/stalwart Beau Jennings, whose woozy yet knowing delivery occasionally recalls Ray Davies” – Performing Songwriter
“he is a sonic everyman. You almost know him; he’s that friend of yours who is kind of quiet at first, but has the tendency to bust out an incisively insightful statement or a perfectly timed quip. Most of all, he never tries to win your affection-he just does. ” Soundcheck Magazine
Here’s an update from M:M:B reader Justin Dorset in regards to one of our favorite debuts of the year, Laura Marling…
…Congratulations to LAURA MARLING who has been included in today’s MERCURY MUSIC PRIZE nominations! The highly coveted UK music award is given to just one artist for making the “Best British Album Of The Year“.
18 year old Laura Marling’s debut album Alas, I Cannot Swim has enjoyed huge critical acclaim since its European release earlier this year. The album gets a US release on Astralwerks on August 19th and is available now from digital retailers in the US.
Laura Marling is one of just 12 artists nominated in 2008, on a list which includes: The Last Shadow Puppets, Elbow, Radiohead, Robert Plant & Alison Krauss, Adele and Neon Neon.
Founded in 1992, previous Mercury Music Prize winners include Franz Ferdinand, Arctic Monkeys, Badly Drawn Boy, Primal Scream, PJ Harvey and Pulp.
Jamie Seerman is an American folk singer-songwriter from New York. She performs under the name Jaymay. She was raised in Long Island and in 2003 after having graduated from New College of Florida, she was unable to find a job in book publishing and moved back to New York to play open mics.[1] Her major musical influence is Bob Dylan. She has been described by the BBC as “darling of the New York ‘Anti-Folk’ scene”,[2] and by the New York Times as a “big name…for the indie universe”.[3] Jaymay appeared on the TV-show Late Night With Conan O’Brien on Monday, March 10, 2008 and on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson on Tuesday, May 13, 2008. She also appeared on ‘The Colour Rooms’, on Channel 4, on May 17, 2008.
I was nostalgic for some classic Johnny Cash. The two newer videos are two of the best videos produced in the past ten years, and the third is just vintage Cash.
Charlotte Sometimes‘ is MMB’s latest crust. Her debut full-length, Waves and the Both of Us, is super-catchy, packed with powerhouse songs filled with both aggression and libido. It’s strange when a pop record sneaks up on you and connects on an emotional level and ushers you to an unexpected place at an unexpected time.
Charlotte Sometimes, named for a Penelope Farmer 1969 children’s book (not the Cure song), is a 20-year-old with attitude from New Jersey. It would be easy to pass off C.S. as just another flash-in-the-pan female Meredith Brooksish one-hit-wonder, but just one listen to Waves and the Both of Us makes you realize there’s deep talent there; and I don’t know about you but I prefer my bubble-gum-pop to come wrapped in a cd case plastered with a Parental Advisory label on the cover.
Here are a few highlights from Waves and the Both of Us, but the disc deserves to be purchased and listened to from beginning to end.
Charlotte Sometimes :: “Sweet Valium”
Charlotte Sometimes :: “Ex-Girlfriend Syndrome”
Charlotte Sometimes :: “How I Could Just Kill a Man”
The Kills is an American indie band consisted of Alison Mosshart and Jamie Hince. The album, “Midnight Boom,” contains the song “Goodnight Bad Morning”. This is one of the most consistently good cds of the year so far. Pick it up. It’s very catchy indeed.
