If It's Too Loud...

Ransom Pier are back with a new song off an upcoming EP! "My Own Way" has a much stronger country twang than we've heard from the band in quite a while. It's the mix of traditional country mixed with Hayley Harrington's soulful voice that makes Ransom Pier truly special. "My Own Way" is a fun song that feels like just hanging out with friends and singing a song, but a well produced version of that. You can watch the lyric video for "My Own Way" below. Wood Lane , the new EP from Random Pier, is scheduled for release on July 11. You can pre-order a copy at Bandcamp . For more on Ransom Pier, check out their website . 

Lucinda Williams should be covered a whole lot more. Her songs are simply perfect, and as respected as she is, it doesn't seem like enough people pay tribute to her music. Luckily, Ransom Pier are releasing a new EP and are including a cover of Williams's "Fruits of My Labor" off her 2003 masterpiece World Without Tears. Ransom Pier cover the song magnificently. Their version is just a tiny bit slower than the original, and Hayley Harrington does an unbelievable job with Williams's impossible to duplicate vocals.  You can watch the live video for Ransom Pier's version of "Fruits of My Labor" below. Feels Like Home to Me , the upcoming EP from Ransom Pier, will be out on April 24. You can pre-order a copy on Bandcamp . For more on Ransom Pier, check out their website .

Photo by Shannon Kelly Three months after releasing "Holding On," Ransom Pier are back with "It's Up to You." Their usual soul/blues sound takes a background on the new song, which is a showcase for singer Hayley Harrington. "It's Up to You" is just her with an acoustic guitar, playing sparsely and singing throughout. No real solos or instrumental breaks. This is the singer/songwriter genre at it's finest level, and demonstrates Harrington's full range going from quiet and vulnerable to a much more powerful style. It's a great slight change in style for a band we've been following for a couple of years now. You can listen to "It's Up to You" below. For more on Ransom Pier, check out their website. If you happen to be in NYC on June 17, they'll be playing Rockwood Music Hall, stage 2. They'll also be playing Stephen Talkhouse in Amagansett, NY on July 22.

Photo by Kyle Walker It's been about a year and a half since we last heard from Random Pier, but luckily they are back with a brand new song. "Holding On" is exactly what we expect (and want) from Ransom Pier. It's just your good old fashioned standard Americana with a soul/blues twist. Think of Lake Street Dive mixed with Julie Rhodes. You're not getting any boundaries broken with Ransom Pier, and that's perfectly ok. Although "Holding On" does get some odd changes we haven't previously seen in Ransom Pier's previous releases, and since songs changing pace multiple times unexpectedly is kinda one of my things, I'm all for this. You can listen to "Holding On" below. I'm not sure if it's just a single release or part of an upcoming album, but for more details you can check out their website , and get your own copy of "Holding On" at Bandcamp . They're also set to do some fairly extensive east coast tou...

Queens, NY's Ransom Pier blew me away with their first single, "Turn Your Head," and quickly threatened to become a blog favorite, which is pretty amazing for a band that formed earlier this year. Well, they're about to release their debut EP, and I'm pretty sure they've reached blog favorite level. They mix this great combination of indie roots and soul, which is something I didn't know I needed in my life.  The album starts off with "I Must Say," which is a mixture of The Black Crowes' The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion  and Sallie Ford. They have this great classic folk-rock sound while sounding completely modern. It's perfect for anyone who likes any portion of the Americana genre. "Love's a Bitch" might be one of the best soul anthems of the year, second only to Leon Bridge's album. This is a great debut, even if how recently the band formed drives me a little insane. If They Can't Take a Joke  is...

While writing about music, you want that great band backstory of how a band formed years ago, and has been playing shitty gig after shitty gig, and now after years and years of hard work are finally getting their big break. Well, welcome to the digital age and discovering great bands five months after they form. Hailing from Queens, NY, Ransom Pier formed in February of this year and already have an absurdly good single out. "Turn Your Head" is the tale of randomly spotting an ex at a bar and wanting them to notice you. It reminds me a bit of Treat Her Right's "I Think She Likes Me." Singer Hayley Harrington's voice gives this great bluesy touch over a sparse but still rocking roots track. It's perfect for fans of Lake Street Dive that want a little more grit in their music. Listen to "Turn Your Head" below. You can also check out Ransom Pier on Facebook , Twitter , and their own website . Their debut EP is due in August. You'll find ...