afternoon browsing, endless procrastination.
There’s this sports show called ‘around the horn.’ I don’t really understand the point of it, but I feel that the title applies to what I have to say today. I’ve basically spent the past few hours emersed in a busy escapade of browsing the internet’s finest musical offerings, making the rounds at all the familiar stops.
Some things I’ve found today that I fully endorse.
Jenn Grant
okay, so I didn’t find her today…but her name came up and I thought I should mention the girl. comfortable, relateable folk, Jenn Grant’s music is more than just a girl with a guitar. Her most recent album, Echos, is a stream of well constructed pieces that incorporate a number of different instruments in supporting roles—giving it a balanced, well-rounded feel, the perfect compliment to that sweet voice of hers. She’s already toured with the likes of Great Lake Swimmers, has a few Nova Scotia Music Awards under her belt, and has definitely found herself a permanent spot on my music rotations.
Jenn Grant - Sailing By Silverships
DM Stith
some artists go to painstaking lengths to make sure that there is thoughtful inspiration driving each of the actions they undertake. DM Stith is one of these few. Each sound, from the keys, to a plucked guitar string, to shimmering bells, to his assuring vocals, rings out in a ripple effect; the effect is this grandiose, impressive construction of an art form. Will definitely be on the look out for his first full length album [following up a compilation of songs called Ichabod and Apple] on Asthmatic Kitty Records [ring a bell? hint: Sufjan Stevens] sometime in the near future.
Two Hours Traffic
Remember those summers before you could drive and days were filled with warped tour, sony walkmens and highly questionable power-pop? Well, Two Hours Traffic accomplishes what I always thought was rather impossible; somehow, this Canadian group is able to pull at strings of nostalgia to those yesteryears while at the same time, emboding the maturity, be it instrumental or lyrical, of the music I prefer these days. It’s as if power-pop grew up, learned how to use words properly, and maybe took a shower. The band announced last Monday that the official release for Territory will be September 8th, three days after band member Andy MacDonald’s birthday. Sounds like a good present to me. The most recent album, Little Jabs is definitely worth the listen as well.
Also, Captain Obvious has concocted another fabulous covers mixtape [I think this is number 19]. And major points to Deer Tick; any band that can get me to listen to a song written by Bruce Springsteen has some kind of miracle touch. Deer Tick - Nebraska [Bruce Springsteen Cover]
Also features Mates of State doing Jackson Browne, These United States coppin’ some Dylan, and the absolute quietest version I’ve ever heard of Van Halen’s Panama, bizarre to hear every single lyric crystal clear…gives it a totally different vibe.
