Music to be stoned to.  Not high, stoned.  Whistle Peak’s lo-fi Americana fits in well with bands like Yeasayer and Colossal Gospel–bands who take traditional elements and play them a little … Strangely.  Sometimes there’s an off-key accordi0n or a suffocated vocal.  It’s always a little bit whimsical, a little bit painful, and never, ever takes itself too seriously.  It’s music that’s willing to take a chance at failure, or at doing something radical and weird.  It’s never broad, but never narrow.

Hopefully, by the time you’ve read down to hear you’re confused and curious enough to give them a try.  But remember: This won’t make you skip or clap.  It’s the sound of contemplative paintings.

Scheduled for release February 14, 2012, on Karate Body records.

Whistle Peak, “Wings Won’t Behave” by karatebody

Get it free on bandcamp.

Best Friends

They also released this video for the song “Mostly Hard” on youtube:

I’ve listened to Circles several times now.  Gets better every time.

Get it for just five bucks–support the artist!  Plus, they covered my favorite artist from-when-I-was-ten, Pat Benetar!  And you can cop that cover for free!

Colossal Gospel – Shadows of the Battlefield (Pat Benatar Medley) by Colossal Gospel

Bitter Woman by Colossal Gospel

Bloody Boat by Colossal Gospel

Leaving by Colossal Gospel

Maybe it’s the background “woos” in “Won’t Let You Leave.” They add a sense of reality here—they ground the tune, and keep it from being twee. I hate twee. Jenny O. is most definitely not twee. It makes the studio-produced song feel live, as if she’s creating it right here right now. Kind of like Jill Sobule (particularly on the title track of the EP—a song that should move you to shivers if you have anything close to a heart in your body). Her depth—by which I mean her attention to the background of her own music, as opposed to putting everything on the surface—may be down to her having been a background singer for Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy. But I bet it’s just instinct, knack, raw talent.

She feels a little too edgy for Starbucks, again because her songs feel so raw and new. So many artists of her stripe sound prepackaged. Jenny O. does not. She’s an original. Can’t wait to get concert tickets when she comes into town.

Well OK Honey

Buy it for four bucks at Bandcamp

I can’t find a whole lot of info about Butter, but I can tell you this: They’re damn good.  It’s indie folk/rock, with absolute zero twee factor, featuring the beautiful voice of Lisena Brown, along with tight guitar work, sweet harmonies, some wonderful cello interludes, and solid rhythm on the hooks.

And the lyrics!  How can you not dig verses as complex and insightful as this: “Call me when you get off probation/We can go get a root beer float/You’re out riding those bedsheets again/Here I thought you were my friend/All this time you were a cookie cutter man.”  Or a chorus that cries: “This is our church/Here in a house/Made up of smoke and wooden ghosts.”  The music is mysterious, beautiful, and romantic.

The band hails from Missoula, and this is their debut CD.

The album is three bucks.  Three bucks!  C’mon you cheap bastards, chip in and encourage the artist!

House Collapse

Wooden Ghosts

Caroline Smith is the reason I started this blog. Well, not exactly. But people like her, with her spirit. Her (and her band’s) kickstarter-funded, DIY album, Little Wind, is due out on September 20, and it’s chock full of indie singer-songwriter gems.  I loved just about every quirky, cute, sexy and darling song on this little record.  Funny thing, though, is I can’t figure out who submitted it…Seem to have lost the records.  Well, whoever did, thank you!

For fans of: Kate Nash, Thao and the Get Up Stay Down,Joanna Newsom, Feist.

Tanktop

Strong Shoulders

Tom Thumb has dropped two EPs that could have easily been an A-side and B-side of an album: Side one, Creatures to Feed, is a gentle collection of acoustic songs about faith and love. Acoustic guitar, a little piano and vocals.  Faux Romantic sounds a lot like it’s name: It’s also gentle, but it’s all keyboard, and it’s got overdubs and echo and all kindsa studio devices designed to make mood.  All that, with a Cyndi Lauper cover.

Oh, and if I were to compare the Faux Romantic to anyone, I’d say it sounds like Paul Simon.  Covering Clem Snide.

Seriously, though, great stuff.

Unfolded Notice (from Creatures to Feed)

Good Enough (Cyndi Lauper cover) (from Faux Romantic)

BONUS!

Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues (Bob Dylan cover)-Clem Snide

I can’t tell you how much I’m digging the simplicity here: Banjo, guitar, gentle voices, and moving lyrics.

I don’t get a whole lot of submissions like this.

This is possibly one of the best albums of the year.

TOUR DATES:

May 30th – The Saxon Pub – Austin, TX
June 18th – Wyldwood Shows – Austin, TX
June 22nd – Poor David’s Pub – Dallas, TX
June 24th – Floore’s Country Store – Helotes, TX
July 1st – House Concert – Lafayette, LA
July 2nd – Anderson Fair – Houston, TX
August 3rd – Club Passim – Cambridge, MA w/ Ana Egge
August 5th – The Living Room – New York, NY
August 6th – NightCat – Easton, MD
August 17th – Schuba’s Tavern – Chicago, IL
August 19th – The Mill Restaurant – Iowa City, IA
August 20th – Gingko Coffeehouse – St. Paul, MN
September 2nd-3rd – TBA – Ketchikan, AK
September 9th-11th, 2011 – Sister’s Folk Festival – Sisters, OR
September 17th – Harris Bridge Vineyard – Philomath, OR
September 23rd – The Alternative Cafe – Seaside, CA
September 24th – KC Turner House Concert Series – San Francisco, CA

Taste it:
01 All I Know by mattthee

Two solo singer/songwriters with guitars, teaming up to form an even greater whole. Joey Ryan and Kenneth Pattengale.

Honest lyrics, pure music, minimalist–no need for vocoders or drum machines or overdubs.  Just live music.

Beautiful indie from Madison, WI.

Get the whole album free here.

Truly great stuff.

Permanent

Charlie

I used to really like Shawn Colvin, but she lost her edge.  If you feel like I do, and want to hear a fantastic female singer-songwriter with Americana accents, indie folk sensibilities, and the ability to craft a hook and belt out a powerful tune, look no further than Lynn Miles.  Her album has all that and more.  Great lyrics, powerful and moving vocals . . . This is the rare example of a smart and well-crafted singer-songwriter album: One that can appeal to “real” music fans as well as those who just want to turn on the radio and catch a tune they can hum along to.

Get it directly from True North, and support the artist!

Something Beautiful