Angel Olsen – “Safety Dance” Only Angel Olsen can turn “Safety Dance” by 80s icon, Men Without Hats, and turn it into a creepily beautiful song that sounds as if it should be on the jukebox at the bar in … Continue Reading
LUMP – “we cannot resist” LUMP, the collaboration of Laura Marling and Mike Lindsay, is a joyous rock n roll romp. Marling has always been one of my favorite lyricists, often displaying maturity way beyond her years. On “we … Continue Reading
Angel Olsen – “Gloria” – Aisles Angel Olsen has the greatest voice, and in Laura Branigan’s 80s hit, “Gloria”, she demonstrates that voice. She actually makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up, especially when she hits the … Continue Reading
Sharon Van Etten & Angle Olsen – “Like I Used To” On this song, you get two of the best voices and songwriters in the Alternative Folk collaborating on a song that would put the Everly Brothers to shame for … Continue Reading
Lucy Dacus – “VBS” How many of you remember summers spent at VBS? (Vacation Bible School). I remember so well. Sometimes my brother and I would go to three or even four different VBSs. I always won the Bible verse … Continue Reading
HARE “Rolls Along” HARE (formally the Seb Isaac Band), is a great band that deals with subjects we all can relate to. Especially those relationships that are iffy, maybe you’re just there until the next better thing comes along. HARE is … Continue Reading
Sufjan Stevens “The Greatest Gift” The Greatest Gift Sufjan Stevens is backed with his most positive album ever, The Greatest Gift. The lead song from the album is Stevens’ most potent and obvious presentation of his faith. This is a beautiful song: … Continue Reading
Eli Lev “Go Down” All Roads East God, what a great song. This beautiful song was nspired by a series of baptisms that he witnessed on the Jordan River. It has that beautiful, blues-based, gospel-tinged sound that I love so much. … Continue Reading
Holy Oak “Isabelle” Second Son Neil Holyoak wears his heart on his sleeve. He has this absolutely heart-breaking voice. When he sings his song for “Isabelle”, I become extremely jealous of her. Holy Oak is just so much in love, … Continue Reading
Conor Oberst “Barbary Coast (Later)” Salutations Conor Oberst is one of my heroes, and it is so wonderful he has not lost his sense of ironic bitterness. Nobody combines images quite like Oberst. Take this verse for example: I don’t … Continue Reading
John Andrews and the Yawn “Drivers” Bad Posture Bad Posture, the new album by John Andrews and the Yawn, was mostly written slowly & quietly throughout the winter, usually late at night next to the wood stove for warmth. It was … Continue Reading
Evening Darling “Live Where You Lay” From Brooklyn (of course), come the lovely sound of Evening Darling. Comprised of Erica Lane (lead vocals), Nick Lerangis (guitars, vox), Dan Burke (drums), Dave Letchinger (keyboard), Ryan “Rusty” Loftus (guitars) and Brett Saxon (bass), … Continue Reading
The New Tarot “America” By far my favorite band of occult sisters, and I mean that with the greatest respect. The New Tarot are comprised of The Walker sisters, Monika (vocals/guitar) and Karen (vocals/keyboard), Chas Langston (drums), Dave Kahn (bass), Beth … Continue Reading
Lowlight “Bones” Where Do We Go From Here Lowlight is such an amazing band, that you need to watch the video and listen to them. Renee Maskin (lead vocals, guitar) and Colin Ryan (drums) came together to record for their … Continue Reading