Luna Covers Fleetwood Mac

Photo via Facebook

In news that is obviously going to make us very happy, the reunited Luna are going to follow up on their 2004 studio album with two releases on September 22: A six song instrumental EP and an album of covers! So far the band has only made one song available for listen: A cover of FLeetwood Mac's "One Together." I'm completely unfamiliar with the Fleetwood Mac original, so I can only listen to it as a Luna song. It's a dreamy, laid back, fairly hazy song, so it pretty much sounds like a Luna song to me. It even has that slow, almost lackadaisical guitar solo style that I love from Luna.

You can listen to Luna's cover of "One Together" below. The EP (A Place of Greater Safety) and the covers album (A Sentimental Education) will be available on September 22. The covers album will also feature songs originally done by David Bowie, Bob Dylan, Mercury Rev, The Cure, and more! For more on Luna, check them out on Facebook and Bandcamp.

United Folk Festival Has an Unbelievable Line Up, and It's Free

Let's face it. Most of us aren't going to the Newport Folk Festival this year. Tickets now go on sale before Christmas, and sell out virtually instantly. Plus, while the ticket prices aren't that outrageous as far as festivals go, staying in or around Newport for a weekend during the summer is a very expensive proposition. But, if you like listening to first class Americana music at an outdoor festival in southern Rhode Island during the month of July, we now have a second option.

In what appears to be its second year, the United Folk Festival takes over Wilcox Park in Westerly, Rhode Island on July 1st. Usually free, outdoor concerts in public parks are limited to band concerts and geriatric jug bands, but the United Folk Festival is bringing some of our favorite artists, all for free. The line up includes Blitzen Trapper, Langhorne Slim, Woods, The Low Anthem, Elvis Perkins, My Bubba (who might be your next favorite band), and many more. It's nine hours of a free folk festival with bands you already care about!

The United Folk Festival will be July 1 at Wilcox Park in Westerly, Rhode Island. For more on the festival, check them out on Facebook.

Radar State - "Spinning Wheel"

Photo via Facebook

Bands like The Get Up Kids and The Anniversary are guilty pleasures for me. I always felt that I was a little bit too old to be into them back when both were at the height of their popularity. This was really driven home at a Get Ups Kids show I went to at the Worcester Palladium in 2001, which was the very first time I felt old at a show. I was 25. 

I was thrilled and hesitant when I first heard that there was a new supergroup formed from members of both The Get Up Kids and The Anniversary. Radar State features Matt Pryor and Jim Suptic of The Get Up Kids and Josh Berwanger of The Anniversary. Adam Phillips of Architects is on drums. The band has released the first song off their upcoming EP. "Spinning Wheel" sounds like classic, old school Get Up Kids, the kind of emo you can listen to in your 30s or more without embarrassment. It's just fast enough to have a punk edge but melodic as can possibly be. We'll see how the entire EP is with three frontmen and all, but if "Spinning Wheel" is any indication, the EP is promising, at the very least as a not-so-guilty pleasure.

You can listen to "Spinning Wheel" below. Radar State's self-titled EP will be out in September, and is now available in various pre-order packages here. For more on Radar State, check out their Facebook.

First Listen: New Releases for May 26

A slow week with the Memorial Day holiday.

Artist: Swet Shop Boys
Album: Sufi La
Quick Description: EP from the former Das Racist folks.
Why You Should Listen: A significant improvement from their debut.
Overall Thoughts: Given that everyone liked Das Racist, the spinoff of their dissolution was a welcome event. But the first Swet Shop Boys album, for me at least, lacked the necessary staying power to really hold up over numerous listens. We get a quick EP from them this week, and I think this is the release we were hoping for – it has some great beats, some fun lyrics, and felt like the total package. I don’t know whether this is a preamble to new music or castoffs from the last album, but this has me exctited for the group all over again.
Recommendation: Worth your time this week.

Artist: Justin Townes Earle
Album: Kids in the Street
Quick Description: Latest from the independent country troubadour.
Why You Should Listen: JTE typically has well-crafted songs...
Overall Thoughts: ...and this is no different. A favorite of Ken's in particular, this album is the latest in a line of albums that are just solid listens even if it lacks that one significant punchy song that can really raise it to the next level. Still, in terms of the folky country space, there are few as good as Earle at what he does.
Recommendation: Worth a listen.

Artist: Eivør
Album: Slør
Quick Description: Icelandic pop.
Why You Should Listen: You enjoy all things Icelandic music-wise.
Overall Thoughts: No, she's not Bjork, but she's definitely in that mold. A more mainstream voice, a more melodic approach, and the result is a darkish affair from an area that seems to produce a lot of great musicians. I don't have a ton to say except that I really enjoyed this one, and it would be worth hearing even in a busy week.
Recommendation: A great release this week.

Artist: Swarming Branch
Album: Surreal Number
Quick Description: Interesting, psych-tinged indie rock.
Why You Should Listen: This is the most unique release I've heard in a while.
Overall Thoughts: Swarming Branch defies pretty much every expectation I had. The good in that is where the album stands out, as it's a little strange and borrows from so much. The bad, really, is that it feels pretty uneven and doesn't always work. But considering all the parts together, this is an inventive, ambitious project with a lot going for it, and I will spend a lot more time with it.
Recommendation: Better than a curiosity, worth a listen.

Artist: Hazel English
Album: Just Give In/Never Going Home
Quick Description: A dual EP from an female indie voice.
Why You Should Listen: Fits in with a lot of the more adventurous voices.
Overall Thoughts: I sense a lot of Crutchfield in this voice, and that's not a bad thing - I liked more than I disliked here, and I feel like there's a lot of experimentation here to go along with the sharp songwriting and overall quality of this. It's a great sign of things to come, in my opinion, so get in early on this.
Recommendation: One of the better releases of the week.

Also out this week:

* James Vincent McMorrow - True Care (honestly? Kind of middling.)
* The Charlatans - Different Days (not good)
* Mabel - Bedroom

The Sticks - "Come Back"

The Sticks from Brighton (UK, not the Boston neighborhood) refer to themselves as a "not very rock band." The band recently unearthed a lost album that was never released. They've released one song from it before it is released. "Come Back" is stripped back as can possibly be, with barely any instrumentation. There's barely a beat that can be heard, with guitar and bass that almost take turns. It's a fully fleshed out song, but it's the bare minimum that could be called post punk, which is already a genre based on minimalism. But this is so sparse and minimal that it's almost a post punk mixed with folk hybrid. It's an absurdly refreshing and unique sound, which is beyond welcome.

You can listen to "Come Back" below. The Sticks' new/forgotten album, Why Bother, will be out on June 2 on Faux Discx. You can order a copy now via Bandcamp. For more on The Sticks, check them out on Facebook.

Friday Freebie: The Secret Sisters - You Don't Own Me Anymore Singles Pack + PledgeMusic Sessions

In what seems to be a recurring theme, for a limited time NoiseTrade is offering two singles from The Secret Sisters' upcoming album as well as a song from their PledgeMusic acoustic session. It's a collection of three songs total, but it's great to tide us over while we wait for The Secret Sisters' long awaited new album. The Secret Sisters might have the most perfect retro country/folk sound out there, to the point that even their originals sound like they might be covers of classics. It's all harmonies and gorgeous melodies. You Don't Own Me Anymore Singles Pack + PledgeMusic Sessions offers you "Tennessee River Runs Low" (which we brought to you back in March) and "He's Fine," which is offered in both album versions and the PledgeMusic Sessions version. 

You can get a copy of You Don't Own Me Anymore Singles Pack + PledgeMusic Sessions for a limited time via NoiseTrade. You Don't Own Me Anymore will be available on June 9. It can be pre-ordered now through Amazon. For more on The Secret Sisters, check out their website.

Pega Monstro - "Cachupa"

We're just over a week away from the release of Pega Monstro's new album, and we have a new song with a tweaked sound to check out. Our favorite garage rock sister duo from Portugal have released a new song, "Cachupa," and while it still has some of Pega Monstro's garage rock sound, it's a bit more tame and has more than a little bit of a dream pop sound to it. It still has classic garage rock guitars in it, but there's more of a dreamy, psychedelic element to it, almost as if it's being played through a haze. The dreamy, psychedelic sound is slowly drawn out more and more as the song continues. Plus, it clocks in at almost six and a half minutes, so it's practically the length of three normal garage rock songs. It's a welcome change to their sound while still sounding like a Pega Monstro song.

You can listen to "Cachupa" below. Pega Monstro's new album, Casa de Cima, will be out June 2 on Upset the Rhythm. You can order your copy of the album here. For more on Pega Monstro, check them out on Facebook.

Benjamin Booker - "Believe"

Photo by Ken Sears

Back in the 80s and 90s, an album would be announced, and you'd have one single released before the album. With the current music industry model, you get 2-4 singles released before the album is, since there is really no such thing as radio or video airplay anymore. The only challenge with this model is you can really burn yourself out on an album before it's even out yet.

I doubt that will happen with the upcoming album from Benjamin Booker. "Believe," the third single released for Witness, Booker goes full on soul. The proto-punk blues meets Nirvana sound of his 2014 self titled debut is gone on this track. This is pure neo-soul, and what's most shocking perfectly is how Booker's ragged voice fits both heavier rock songs and soul. The accompanying video was shot in Providence's Columbus Theater with an orchestra and gospel choir.

Benjamin Booker's new album, Witness, will be out June 2 on ATO Records. You can watch the video for "Believe" below. For more on Benjamin Booker, check out his website.

Downtown Boys - "A Wall"

Photo via Facebook

If you told me that Downtown Boys would be toning down their sound on their upcoming Sub Pop debut, but I'd end up still loving it, I'd have scoffed in your face. Luckily, you'd end up being right. "A Wall," the first single off Cost of Living, runs at about half speed of most of the songs on 2015's Full Communism. All things considered, by punk standards, it's a fairly tame song. Victoria Ruiz's vocals are still unhinged and go against the melody of the song. Oh... did I mention that there's melody? You can feel the influence of producer Guy Picciotto: The bass feels Fugazi level heavy. Plus, the left leaning politics are still there, with the title "A Wall" being about an obvious subject. This is the exact moment a punk band starts growing up a bit, while they're still keeping their edge.

You can listen to "A Wall" below. Downtown Boys' new album, Cost of Living, will be out August 11 on Sub Pop. You can pre-order your copy here. For more on Downtown Boys, check out their Bandcamp.

First Listen: New Releases for 19 May

A busy release week, but also a busy weekend for me, so this is somewhat truncated. Still, some real highlights:

Album of the Week:

Artist: !!!
Album: Shake the Shudder
Quick Description: Latest from the dance-rockers.
Why You Should Listen: !!! is always amazing, and they've really hit their stride as a band.
Overall Thoughts: It's rare for an album to both be album of the week and for me not to have a lot to say about it, but here is the new !!!, and they've got a pretty solid sound going at this point. They're not weird anymore, and they kind of have a great type of sound that doesn't take a ton of risks anymore. So, while we don't get legendary tracks like "Pardon My Freedom," we do get songs that hook you in immediately like "Dancing is the Best Revenge." !!! are a band out of time in a way - I'm into it.
Recommendation: Always wonderful, and this is a must-listen like all of their stuff.

Artist: Cayetana
Album: New Kind of Normal
Quick Description: Hook-happy indie rock.
Why You Should Listen: This is the latest in a line of great albums out in this space recently.
Overall Thoughts: My album of the week because apparently I’m predictable enough to hear a female-fronted indie rock act and fall in love all over again. This has been a banner year for woman artists, I think, and between this, Diet Cig, Charly Bliss, Dude York, and the revival of Juliana Hatfield, we’ve got a veritable bumper crop of solid music that harkens back to a great time in music. Cayetana isn’t mimicking the Hatfields and Veruca Salts of the 1990s, but instead has a bit of a cleaner, less fuzzy Weezer vibe on a lot of this album. The result is some tight songwriting and some tunes that I caught myself singing along to some of the songs even as I hit my first rotation through the tracks. It’s that catchy and good. Whether this will stick with me for weeks like Charly Bliss and Diet Cig have so far remains to be seen, but for now, this is my favorite album of the moment, and would be my favorite of the week had this come out last Friday and not a few weeks ago.
Recommendation: A stellar release.

Artist: Stevie Parker
Album: The Cure
Quick Description: British singer's debut album.
Why You Should Listen: You like pleasant voices with some modern, mid-term instrumentation.
Overall Thoughts: Stevie Parker isn't going to blow you away with her voice or any theatrics, but there's something intriguing and interesting about this album that hooked me right in. It's a very modern album, but it's not so much poppy as it is radio-friendly for a more discerning audience. As the pop listener here, this isn't hitting me in the same place that others do, but this is right in line with albums from Frances and Wet that I've liked recently. It might not be for you, but if it is, you'll love it.
Recommendation: Worth a listen this week.

Artist: Pokey LaFarge
Album: Manic Revelations
Quick Description: Latest from the rootsy favorite.
Why You Should Listen: Pokey LaFarge sets his own retro path, and it's always worth a listen.
Overall Thoughts: I enjoy Pokey LaFarge, and he's an interesting character musically. I know Ken's a bigger fan than I, but this happens every time - LaFarge puts out a solid album, I listen a few times, and I move on. Then a new album comes out, and I remember why I like him all over again. This latest album feels like LaFarge in his prime, and it works on a lot of levels. I just don't know why he's not as buzzworthy as, say, Langhorne Slim. It's baffling. Maybe this will be the breakthrough he deserves.
Recommendation: A solid release.

Artist: Jade Jackson
Album: Gilded
Quick Description: A rootsy debut.
Why You Should Listen: Jade Jackson's debut shows a lot of promise.
Overall Thoughts: A friend turned me onto Jade Jackson, and “Aden” is a song that hooked me in to stay. I talk a lot about trying to find the act that will fill the Kathleen Edwards-shaped hole in my heart, and Jade Jackson comes close – the synthesis of emotional rock music and roots influences is tighter here than in a lot of albums in this space, but the album’s only flaw is a significant one – there’s an urgency in some of the songs that don’t carry over to a lot of others, resulting in a bit of a slower pace. In a way, it does remind me of Edwards’s first album, Failer, in that the more faster-paced songs stole the show, but the pacing here is what keeps this album from being more like a great Edwards/Lydia Loveless record. I am being more negative than I should be here, because this is a solid album. I finished it up just wishing it was a little more on first listen, and I’m thinking that future listens may uncover some stuff I missed.
Recommendation: Definitely worth your time this week.

Artist: The Builders and the Butchers
Album: The Spark
Quick Description: Latest from the not-quite-folkies.
Why You Should Listen: This band has been consistently good for a long time.
Overall Thoughts: I have no clue when I first got into this band. It might have been an old Turntable.FM room that played something, or a shot in the dark from eMusic or something like that, but either way, I’ve always liked them. This new album is the first in some time from them, and they are bringing the heat. This album is a lot stronger, louder, and more immediate than their previous efforts, and to their benefit. It’s a tone that fits them, and the distinct vocals combined with the musicianship makes for a solid listen.
Recommendation: Give this a listen.

Artist: Deb Talan
Album: Lucky Girl
Quick Description: New solo album from half of The Weepies.
Why You Should Listen: Deb Talan has a gorgeous voice and the music here is great.
Overall Thoughts: The female voice of The Weepies offers her first solo album in well over a decade. It will surprise no one that this largely sounds like a Weepies record with a slightly different feel to it. And that’s fine – it absolutely works, and there are some great gems on this album that I already feel like I want to go back to. This is just a great listen, and considering how relatively rarely we get music from either of the Weepies, alone or together...
Recommendation: ...this is a welcome listen.

Artist: Daddy Issues
Album: Deep Dream
Quick Description:
Why You Should Listen:
Overall Thoughts: A few songs of theirs have been bouncing around in various playlists for some time for me, and this album is a great continuation of what we’ve heard from a short EP and some of the lead singles. Yes, the comparisons to Charly Bliss and Diet Cig apply here as well, but it’s pretty hard to avoid those comps and the result might be one where this is lost in the shuffle. It shouldn't be, but that's where we're at. Solid melodic indie rock, though.
Recommendation: Don't sleep on this, though.

Artist: The Mountain Goats
Album: Goths
Quick Description: The latest Mountain Goats album is a little weird, even for them.
Why You Should Listen: Even a bad Mountain Goats album is worth a shot?
Overall Thoughts: I didn't like this. I'll just put that out there. Yeah, we're a long way from the "I record on cassettes" days, but this album is noteworthy due to the lack of guitars and the seeming lack of any real edge on first listen. I don't quite know what John Darnielle was trying to accomplish here except that I know it didn't excite me at all. I'll give it another shot, but in a week full of hits...
Recommendation: ...this was a miss.


Also out this week:

* Do Make Say Think - Stubborn Persistent Illusions (this is great, but not a lot else to say about it)
* Wavves - You're Welcome (also solid)
* Fastball - Step Into Light
* Low Cut Connie - Dirty Pictures
* CLUSTERSUN - Surfacing to Breathe
* Erasure - World Be Gone
* Helium - Ends With And