If It's Too Loud...

Photo by Tom Rankin It's hard to find new things to write about Jake Xerxes Fussell because his songs are just so consistently great. All of the previously released singles for his upcoming album have all had that traditional folk but done in a unique way while sounding completely familiar sound, and his latest also nails that. "Rolling Mills Are Burning Down" is a great folk song. Like... it's really great. It's such a simple song, but it's a rare thing to find an artist this earnest who releases music without any pretentiousness or preciousness. "Rolling Mills Are Burning Down" makes Fussell sound like a modern day John Prine in its simple beauty. You can listen to "Rolling Mills Are Burning Down" below. Good and Green Again is due out January 21 on Paradise of Bachelors. The album can be pre-ordered/pre-saved here . For more on Jake Xerxes Fussell, check out the artist's website . Upcoming tour dates are below the song. Fri. Jan. 21 ...

Photo by Tom Rankin Music doesn't get much more simple than a voice and acoustic guitar, and that's what the latest from Jake Xerxes Fussell is... to start at least. But it's how he puts together a song that is both perfectly familiar and also unique to just him. "Breast of Glass" sounds like thousands of songs you've heard before, but also completely unique to itself. It's simple, traditional folk/Americana music but with just the slightest twist that no one but Fussell quite has. I apologize for the horrible description especially since I know he deserves a much better one, but you truly need to listen to a song like "Breast of Glass" and then you'll understand what I mean.  You can listen to "Breast of Glass" below. Good and Green Again is due out January 22 on Paradise of Bachelors. The album can be pre-ordered here . For more on Jake Xerxes Fussell, check out the artist's website . Upcoming tour dates can be found below the...

Photo by Tom Rankin A lot of artists are doing the traditional folk thing right now, but no one is quite doing it like Jake Xerxes Fussell. I've been struggling to figure out just why his take on traditional folk is so different, but couldn't quite put my finger on it until I saw the press release for his latest single. It states that Fussell's music has an "... unfussy lack of nostalgia and preciousness" and that's exactly it. "Love Farewell" is a modern take on a traditional folk song. It has all the elements of traditional folk, but it doesn't have that nostalgic feel and isn't trying to intentionally be a throwback. Not that we're against that sort of thing here, but Fussell brings a welcome newness to a classic artform without reinventing it. He's just doing his own thing in the world of folk and Americana, and we're all welcome to join him. You can listen to "Love Farewell" below. Good and Green Again is due out Ja...

Photo by Brad Bunyea The latest single from North Carolina's Jake Xerxes Fussell is technically a cover, but it's a song from the 1920's, so most of us aren't going to recognize it. "Oh Captain" was orignally recorded by Willis Laurence James for Paramount Studios. Fussell's version keeps the classic folk feel, but he makes "Oh Captain" still sound current almost one hundred years later. That's what makes Fussell's music so intriguing: His ability to sound classic and modern at the same time. Fussell has this to say about Willis Laurence James:   “James spent much of his life collecting and interpreting and writing about African American worksongs, yet few have recognized his short, obscure stint as a recording artist. Turns out he was a trained singer who taught in the music department for years at Spelman College, whose library still holds his archive. I became fascinated with him and his work, so this song is my little homage to ...

Photo by Tim Harris James Elkington was born in England but now makes Chicago his home. He started out in bands like The Zincs and The Horse's Ha, but stopped writing music around 2011. Instead, he collaborated and played with the likes of Jeff Tweedy, Richard Thompson, Steve Gunn, and Tortoise. This sparked a new creative energy, and he's now set to release his debut solo album. "Make It Up" was recorded in Wilco's Loft in Chicago. His British accent and style of singing are going to remind you of Nick Drake. The main focus of the song is going to be his almost bluegrass style of guitar picking. Elkington is one hell of a guitar player, and this song really lets him show that off. Despite it being mostly acoustic, it still features a killer electric guitar solo. It's pure Americana being filtered through British eyes in an intriguing way. You can watch the video for "Make It Up" below. James Elkington's debut solo album, Wintres Woma , w...

Photo by Constance Mensh Following the trend of an elder statesperson of rock/folk pairing with a younger artist as a producer, Michael Chapman has paired with Steve Gunn for his upcoming album, 50 . The first track from that album, "Winter in Memphis," also features Steve Gunn's band.  The song sounds dark... probably because it is.  "Winter in Memphis was written way back in 1999 when Chapman ended up being stuck in Memphis during a blizzard. It's about how many poor and homeless were dying on the streets during the storm with most citizens not seeming to care. It's a rambling folk song, but Gunn brings things indie rock noise into it that fits the subject matter and Chapman's voice perfectly. It's a nearly seven minute folk song that chugs along at an angrily medium pace and occasionally devolves into feedback heavy guitar solos, but it leaves you needing to hear more. 50  will be out January 20 on Paradise of Bachelors. You can listen to ...

Photo by Semi Song Hailing from Nashville, Promised Land Sound are about to release their sophomore album, For Use and Delight. Today, you can listen to a song from it, "Push and Pull (All the Time)." The track starts off as this bizarre hybrid of an Americana-delving Tom Petty and Belle & Sebastian. After about two minutes, it morphs into what would have happened if Gram Parsons had decided to leave the US and joined a psych-folk band in England. It's enough of a great mix and match of wonderful sounds that For Use and Delight  might be one of my most anticipated albums for the rest of the year. For Use and Delight  is due out October 2 on Paradise of Bachelors. You can listen to "Push and Pull (All the Time)" below. Be sure to check out Promised Land Sound on Facebook , Twitter , and Bandcamp . To pre-order the album, head over to Paradise of Bachelor's website . Upcoming tour dates are listed below. Oct 19 - Limelight - San Antonio, TX Oc...