A Free Man

Let’s kick things off this week with the sultry, smoky voice of Melody Gardot. Her debut LP, “Worrisome Heart” is out and what I’ve heard of it so far is just stunning. Gardot was seriously injured after being hit by a car whilst riding her bicycle in 2004. One of the treatments suggested for her was music therapy and she has truly blossomed. The title track is a guantlet thrown down for aspiring jazz singers. Sublime.

MP3: Melody Gardot - “Worrisome Heart”  .

Word of mouth is still my favorite way of learning about new music, one of the reasons for this post in fact. I got a package from Blighty a little while ago and along with wonderful English sweets was the Mystery Jets latest “Twenty One” (thanks, SSG!). Their sugary British psych-pop wasn’t quite as sweet as the Wine Gums, but nearly as addictive. Get the new Mystery Jets from Seven Digital.

MP3: Mystery Jets - “Half In Love With Elizabeth”

I don’t know much about hip-hop, but I know when something tickles my fancy. And Seattle’s Common Market did that with “Tobacco Road”, the title track from their forthcoming debut LP. The duo got a fair bit pof praise for their EP “Black Patch War” and from the sound of things, the full-length could be a biggun. “Tobacco Road is due out in Septmeber from Massline.

MP3: Common Market - “Tobacco Road”

A Free Man has already declared his undying love for Welsh singer-songwriter Eugene Francis Jnr and had that love consumated in a delightful cyber interview back in March. So it should come as no surprise that I thoroughly enjoyed the most recent single from his debut LP “The Golden Beatle”. If you don’t own this record already - it’s one of the best undiscovered gems of the year. Get it from .

M4A: Eugene Francis Jnr - “My Own Pollution” (Radio Mix)

Herman Düne is a French duet that’s been recording music for nearly a decade. This track, from their 2006 LP “Giant”, is playful, clever and horn-infused (always a selling point for A Free Man). Kind of a Magnetic Fields/Modern Lovers vibe. They’ve got a new LP coming out in October on Everloving Records.

MP3: Herman Düne - “I Wish That I Could See You Soon”

It’s been a long time since anything from Minneapolis has caught my ear, but High on Stress channels the city’s hey day. “Cop Light Parade”, from the quartet’s debut LP “Moonlight Girls”, is reminiscent of fellow Minnesotans The Jayhawks and Soul Asylum. A Free Man likes nothing more than well crafted Americana, and that’s what High on Stress is offering. “Moonlight Girls” is out and available from CD Baby.

M4A: High On Stress - “Cop Light Parade”

One of my favorite covers is Sonic Youth’s treatment of The Carpenters’ “Superstar”, it’s one of those rare covers that’s better than the original. I’m not saying that The Shock of Pleasure has superceded the Sonic Youth version, but it’s pretty damn good. I’m not sure what else the Dallas quartet has to offer, but if Kelley Christian’s vocals on this track are indicative, they’re worth checking out. Their debut LP, “It’s About Time” is out and available from .

I’ve no idea where the Roadside Graves MP3s that I heard this week came from. They certainly didn’t come through my Inbox, so I’m guessing that one of the blogs that I frequent recommended them. I like to give credit where it’s due, but just can’t remember. The memory is the first thing to go, they say.

Anyhow, Roadside Graves. Why is so much good alt-country and Americana coming from the Northeast right now? These guys are a New Jersey outfit who have just released their debut LP, available from .

MP3: Roadside Graves - “Ruby”

I’m fixing to date myself here, but Slowdive’s debut LP induced a sea change in my musical tastes in the early 90’s - away from the guitar heavy grunge that I had been toward melodic dream-pop. I still count “Just For A Day” among my Top 100. Neil Halstead, the male voice of Slowdive, has a new solo record out that’s more reminiscent of Nick Drake’s spare folk than the lush sounds of Slowdive. Outstanding nonethess. ”Oh! Mighty Engine” is out on Brushfire Records and is available from .

MP3: Neil Halstead - “Little Twig”

Closing things out today is Setting Sun, the nom de plume of upstate New York based Gary Levitt. Setting Sun sits squarely in the burgeoning, and compelling, “making music in your bedroom” genre. He recently released his third record, “Children of the Wild”, and is currently touring with A Free Man favorite, Quitzow. Check them out in a town near you and buy Setting Sun’s music directly from the artist.

MP3: Setting Sun - “No Devil Me No More”

Popularity: 92% [?]

The Chapin Sisters, two of whom actually are sisters, are based out of L.A. They got a bit of attention with a cover of “Toxic” last year. What I’ve heard of their new LP “Lake Bottom” sounds pretty good - twisted Americana a la The Be Good Tanyas.

MP3: The Chapin Sisters - “Washed Away”

Speaking of Americana, the more I hear from Damien Jurado the more I am convinced that he’s one of the best songwriters around right now. This track, from his forthcoming LP “Caught In The Trees” is a perfect example. Golden.

MP3: Damien Jurado - “Gillian Was A Horse”

Clem Snide’s 2001 “The Ghost of Fashion” was a masterpiece and one that I’ve been waiting for them to improve on since. Clem Snide is gone, but Eef Barzelay has a new solo record, “Lose Big”, which ciyky sounds like Eef could be back on track.

MP3: Eef Barzelay - “Lose Big”

For those of you not in Australia, Triple J is a national radio station that is pretty good and seeking out new talent from Down Under. One of their latest contests was to find the nation’s best high school bands. Every time I here this track from Sydney trio (is), I’m just amazed that these are high school kids - and then I feel really old.

MP3: (is) - “Cult Romance” 

The Herbaliser has been making jazz influenced hip-hop out of The Big Smoke since the early 90’s. Their latest, “Same As It Never Was” sounds like it’s got a big old dose of The Big Easy as well. These guys are on tour all over the U.S. and Europe this summer.

MP3: The Herbaliser - “On Your Knees”

A little bit Pavement, a little bit Breeders, New York’s The Dig is making solid guitar based indie-rock and is out on tour suppporting their Good Luck and Games EP. They’re all over the East coast this month check them out in a town near you.

MP3: The Dig - “Lovesick Woman”

If what you are missing in your life is Sikh hip-hop, then A Free Man is here to help you out. Sukshinder Shinda is a Birningham (UK) based producer has been a major player in a scene that I never knew existed. He’s worked on over 200 records and “Living The Dream” is his fifth solo effort. I hope I don’t sound dismissive, because this is the most interesting music I’ve heard this week. Check it out if you’re a fan of M.I.A.

MP3: Sukshinder Shinda - “Aao Gidha Palay Eh”

I’ve heard lots of good things, and continually great tunes, from Seattle’s Throw Me The Statue. But nothing tickled the fancy of a self-avowed 80’s hater this week like their Huey Lewis cover. Their excellent LP “Moonbeams” is out on Secretly Canadian and look for Throw Me The Statue in Europe in October.

MP3: Throw Me The Statue - “If This Is It”

Another New York act, The Virgins, are making delightfully radio friendly funk-influenced pop. Their self-titled debut is out now on Atlantic. These guys are going to sell a lot of records.

MP3: The Virgins - “Rich Girl”

Closing things out this week is a duet from A Free Man’s favorite music scene. Portland’s The Old Believers are making sparse yet strangely melodic folk. They’re on a major tour of the Western U.S. this summer and “Eight Golden Greats” is out on July 10.

MP3: The Old Believers - “There It Is”  

Popularity: 27% [?]

I was listening to Damien Jurado’s fantastic 2003 album “Where Shall You Take Me?” at work today. So, when I got the news that he’s playing some dates in the UK this summer, I became a little bit wistful for old Blighty. Here’s hoping he makes it down here to Oz in the not to distant future.

If you are in Britain in August, Jurado will be worth the price of admission.

August 17 Crickhowell, Green Man Festival
August 18 Manchester, Trinity Chapel
August 19 London, Bush Hall w/Bowerbirds

MP3: Damien Jurado - “Intoxicated Hands”

Popularity: 15% [?]

Another Northeastern (U.S.) roots rock act caught my attention this week, I smell a scene up in the Hudson Valley. The Rosewood Thieves are a New York based quintet who released their second EP “Lonesome” in the Autumn. Their music strongly hearkens back to the 1960’s with Mackenzie Vernacchio’s organ summoning up echoes of The Kinks, Bob Dylan and The Faces. The Rosewood Thieves are purely 21st century Americana, however, and Erick Jordan’s narrative songwriting and the sparse production they employ reinforce their place in time. Check out “Honey, Stay Awhile” and see what you think.

“Honey, Stay Awhile” came my way via KCRW and is on the EP “Lonesome” which, along with their previous EP “From the Decker House” is available directly from the band or .

Popularity: 6% [?]

“His daughter was a looker but five’ll get you ten.
He dressed her like a hooker and she smelled like sin.
She had a ragtop car. She made good grades.
She didn’t like her daddy ’cause he wouldn’t let her date.
She was trouble, but ain’t we all. Trouble, but ain’t we all.”

-Jason Isbell - “Down In A Hole”

Just a reminder of where we are in the countdown:

10. M.I.A. - “Kala”
9. Modest Mouse - “We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank”
8. Frank Turner - “Sleep Is For The Week”
7. Wilco - “Sky Blue Sky”
6. Bruce Springsteen - “Magic”
5. Spoon - “Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga”

And here are a couple more end of year links:

• Vote for your top 5 albums at NPR
• John of MOKB’s Top 10
• Pitchfork’s 20 Worst Album Covers of 2007
• Drive-By Trucker Patterson Hood’s Top 10

Hood’s list is an appropriate preface to my choice for the fourth best album of the year - Jason Isbell’s solo debut “Sirens of the Ditch”. Isbell joined Hood’s Drive-By Truckers in 2001 and that band subsequently released two incredibly good records. It will be interesting to see how Isbell’s absence effects the Truckers’ upcoming release.

“Sirens of the Ditch” is another record that I reviewed earlier this year, so there is little need for more praise. This album, by virtue of being released by a small-ish label, flew a little under the radar this year. But it is a near masterpiece by a young songwriter and deserving of a listen.

I’m pasting an mp3 of “Dress Blues” to this post and would like to encourage you, if you enjoy this track, to purchase this album. It’s out on New West, an excellent independent label that could use your support. “Sirens of the Ditch” is available from Amazon and .

Popularity: 3% [?]