The Huntress & Holder of Hands - "Shake Off Your Flesh"

Normally I wouldn't post about a YouTube clip for an unreleased song, but I'm really excited about any new music from The Huntress & Holder of Hands. Plus, they linked to this clip from their Facebook page, so it's obviously approved by them. Recorded live at a house show in Vermont on March 5, "Shake Off Your Flesh" captures some of the sense of foreboding in Brown Bird's Axis Mundi, and even though it still falls into the folk/Americana category, you get a hint of the metal influences that were finally explored on Axis Mundi. This might be due to the hypnotic base line that goes throughout the song. Also, since the band is composed of six members, it's hardly a MorganEve Swain solo project.

You can watch a performance of "Shake Off Your Flesh" below, courtesy of YouTube user nnmvt vidoes. There are also more videos of the performances on their YouTube page, so check those out. For more info on The Huntress & Holder of Hands, check out their Bandcamp and the Brown Bird website.

Big Thief - "Real Love"

Photo by Sasha Arutyunova

When I shared Big Thief's song "Masterpiece" with you last month, we didn't have a release date for their debut album. Now we do (May 27th on Saddle Creek,) and we also have a new song, "Real Love." 

"Real Love" is a brilliant hodge podge of styles that should never be mixed, but thank god they did. First off, it's the kind of power ballad that the 80s were filled with. It seems like 80s power ballads are starting to make a bit of a comeback, and I never realized how much I missed them until this. It's not quite a pure hair metal power ballad in the Motley Crue vein, as it's just countrified enough to slip it into the Americana category. Plus, there are flashes of indie rock guitar, especially towards the end. I can not wait for this album.

Big Thief's debut album, Masterpiece, is due May 27 on Saddle Creek. You can listen to "Real Love" below. Be sure to check out their website, and pre-order Masterpiece via Saddle Creek. There are also some tour dates below.

Tue. Mar. 15 - Austin, TX @ 3Ten Austin City Limits Live (Pre SXSW Party) - 9:20PM
Wed. Mar. 16 - Austin, TX @ Clive Bar (Showtime Roadies House) - 4PM
Wed. Mar. 16 - Austin, TX @ The Sidewinder Inside (Ground Control Showcase) - 12AM
Mon. Mar. 21 - Phoenix, AZ @ Crescent Ballroom w/ Yuck, Sunflower Bean
Tue. Mar. 22 - Las Vegas, NV @ The Bunkhouse Saloon w/ Yuck
Wed. Mar. 23 - San Diego, CA @ Soda Bar w/ Yuck
Thu. Mar. 24 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Echoplex w/ Yuck
Fri. Mar. 25 - Visalia, CA @ The Cellar Door w/ Yuck
Sat. Mar. 26 - San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall w/ Yuck
Mon. Mar. 28 - Portland, OR @ Mississippi Studios w/ Yuck
Tue. Mar. 29 - Vancouver, BC @ Fortune Sound Club w/ Yuck
Wed. Mar. 30 - Seattle, WA @ The Crocodile w/ Yuck
Thu. Mar. 31 - Boise, ID @ Neurolux w/ Yuck
Fri. Apr. 1 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Metro Bar w/ Yuck
Sat. Apr. 2 - Denver, CO @ Larimer Lounge w/ Yuck
Sun. Apr. 3 - Omaha, NE @ Lookout Lounge w/ Yuck
Mon. Apr. 4 - Minneapolis, MN @ 7th St. Entry w/ Yuck
Tue. Apr. 5 - Madison, WI @ High Noon Saloon w/ Yuck
Wed. Apr. 6 - Chicago, IL @ The Empty Bottle w/ Yuck
Thu. Apr. 7 - Ferndale, MI @ The Loving Touch w/ Yuck
Tue. Apr. 12 - Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg w/ Yuck
Fri. Apr. 15 - Washington, DC @ Rock & Roll Hotel w/ Yuck

Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever - "Write Back"

Photo by Jamieson Moore

The new song from Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever might be the most British sounding song we've ever covered, even though they're not British. Hailing from Melbourne, their new song "Write Back" has some pretty strong similarities to the British wave of bands that came before punk (The Jam, The Kinks) but still had the same attitude, just a bit more polite. It's filled with catchy verses and jangling guitars, which are two of our most favorite things. Even the subject matter of a "... hapless internet romance that will never be consummated" feels impossibly British.

Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever will release their mini-album Talk Tight on Ivy League March 25. You can listen to "Write Back" below. Also, be sure to check them out on Twitter and Facebook for more information.

Friday Freebie: Julie Rhodes - Bound to Meet the Devil: B-Sides

Just in case both me and Jeff praising new music from Julie Rhodes wasn't enough to get you interested, she's offering a new EP through Noisetrade. Bound to Meet the Devil: B-Sides is much like Frank Turner's recent Mittens EP, in that it's basically what used to be a maxi-single or import that we'd pay $10-$20 for with a couple songs from the new album and a couple b-sides that didn't make the album.

For free you can get a copy of "In Your Garden" and "See the Sun," two standout tracks from Bound to Meet the Devil that show her more boisterous rock 'n' roll side and her more quiet, soulful side. Both are perfect choices for a sampler. There are also the unreleased songs "Chains" and "Crossroads," both of which would have been perfect for the album. And, yes, "Crossroads" is a Robert Johnson cover, and you all know how we feel about covers.

Bound to Meet the Devil: B-Sides is available on Noisetrade now for the minimum price of an email address. If you like it (and you most likely will,) you should also pick up a copy of Julie Rhodes' full album, Bound to Meet the Devil. Be sure to check out her website for more info.

Julia Jacklin - "Pool Party"

Photo by Nick McKinlay

Julia Jacklin's debut single, "Pool Party," is good. Really good. In fact, it's ridiculous how good this is. A 25 year old from Australia shouldn't be able to nail the Americana thing this well, but she somehow has. It's this stunningly smooth alt-pop-country song, that just mesmerizes for its entire four minute length. I've listened to this song about thirty times over the past few days, and I can't quite define what makes it so good and captivating. It's completely familiar and isn't truly breaking any new ground, but somehow it sounds completely fresh and unique. It just is good, and that's all it needs to be.

For more information on Julia Jacklin, check out her website and Facebook. Make sure you watch the video for "Pool Party" below, or, at the very least, listen to the song. I can't imagine you regretting it.

First Listen, Part Two: New Releases for March 4

And here we go with the other half!

Co-Album of the Week:

Artist: Thao and the Get Down Stay Down
Album: A Man Alive
Quick Description: Latest album by the criminally underrated indie rock act.
Why You Should Listen: It's an album that deserves a lot of attention and not to get overlooked.
Overall Thoughts: I was a latecomer of sorts to Thao Nguyen. Her songwriting didn't grab me right away with her "breakout" of sorts, "Bag of Hammers," but every album she's done since then has improved on the blueprint she brings, and A Man Alive might be the best one yet. It takes some time to truly get off the ground, but by the time "Nobody Dies" hits I was completely and totally on board. It's a challenging record, for sure, but in a good way - if you're not a fan yet, this album might take a few spins to get you on the bandwagon, but I promise there's plenty of room. This is a great release.
Recommendation: Awesome album for this week.

Artist: Wussy
Album: Forever Sounds
Quick Description: Latest album by the cult alt-country/rock act.
Why You Should Listen: Wussy is a band you either already love or is the next band you're going to love.
Overall Thoughts: I should love Wussy. Why they haven't fully connected with me, I don't know, but their continued evolution is here with Forever Sounds, an album that has a lot of solid things going for it on a whole. They're becoming a more traditional rock band in a lot of ways while still retaining the thing that makes them who they are, so if you liked Attica!, you might love this.
Recommendation: Worth a listen.

Artist: Greg Laswell
Album: Everyone Thinks I Dodged a Bullet
Quick Description: First album in a long time by the underrated singer-songwriter.
Why You Should Listen: Greg Laswell has a voice and style that you should already be listening to if you aren't already.
Overall Thoughts: On one hand, it's totes awkward to know that this is a breakup album of sorts when you're in a highish-profile marriage and then you title the album this. I mean, with that in mind, this is a darkish but interesting album that cements Laswell as a voice to hear in the singer-songwriter space. I hope this breaks him through for his original work in the way his covers have in the past.
Recommendation: Definitely worth some time this week.

Artist: M. Ward
Album: More Rain
Quick Description: New album from the indie singer/songwriter.
Why You Should Listen: M. Ward's 60s/70s-inspired songwriting has always been a must listen...
Overall Thoughts: ...but this album feels like a bit of a miss. My issue with it is more one of how restrained it feels, which is different from a musician that always seems to put the musicianship and music first. Atmosphere is one thing Ward does well, and this is full of it, but this almost feels more like a concept album than anything else. On one listen, I can't really judge it on its merits, and I need more time with it.
Recommendation: Passing judgement for now, an interesting release for sure.

Artist: Wintersleep
Album: The Great Detachment
Quick Description: New album by the breakout rockers.
Why You Should Listen: It's really one of the better rock albums out lately.
Overall Thoughts: So I thought this band was a different band when I lined this up this week. I don't know who I thought they were, but this was still a pleasant surprise and listen across the board. It's got the sort of quality, polished-yet-crunchy quality I feel is missing from a lot of rock music as of late, and I definitely think this deserves a bigger look.
Recommendation: Definite recommendation this week.

Artist: Methyl Ethel
Album: Oh Inhuman Spectacle
Quick Description: Debut album from Australian indie act.
Why You Should Listen: This is a buzz band for 2016 that might be poised for some breakout success.
Overall Thoughts: I can't say I lovedlovedloved this, but it had a lot of hints of the sort of odd-center indie acts I fell in love with a decade ago. In that sense, they're very much a modern throwback of sorts that scratches a very specific itch for me. I think we'll be hearing more from them soon, so get in on the ground floor.
Recommendation: Definitely worth a listen this week.

Artist: Rob Crow's Gloomy Place
Album: You're Doomed. Be Nice.
Quick Description: Solo effort from the Pinback lead.
Why You Should Listen: Power pop for daaaaaays!
Overall Thoughts: It's a shame this came out at the same time as Nada Surf, because this deserves a better look. It's a solid effort with a lot to love and some different themes throughout (I'm more partial to some of the poppier stuff, but songs like "Business Interruptus" are just as solid), and it's just a fun listen from start to finish. Don't sleep on this one.
Recommendation: Make it part of your rotation.



Also out this week:

* The Suitcase Junket - Dying Star (solid blues rock EP)
* Face to Face - Protection (straightforward solid classic punk)

First Listen, Part One: New Releases for March 4

Another crazy busy week, so another two parter for you all.

Co-Album of the Week:

Artist: Nada Surf
Album: You Know Who You Are
Quick Description: Latest album from the veteran rock act.
Why You Should Listen: Nada Surf has been perpetually underrated for decades now.
Overall Thoughts: You might still only know them via "Popular," which is fine. The issue with that is you've missed out on a ton of great music, including their really amazing album from about a decade ago, The Weight is a Gift. This album? It's absolutely their best since then, maybe even better musically, and just one of the most solid recent listens in a while. In an era where power pop isn't really getting its due, it's interesting to listen to this and really hear a band that's basically mastered what they do. From top to bottom, this is a superlative album and I can't wait to spend more time with it. It's so good, guys. So good.
Recommendation: A must listen.

Artist: The Coral
Album: Distance Inbetween
Quick Description: Latest album by the enigmatic British indie rock group.
Why You Should Listen: The Coral is a different band than what they once were, but they still do interesting stuff.
Overall Thoughts: I don't know if you'd call their early work indie sea shanties, but there definitely felt like a nautical attitude to their early album, which included "Skeleton Key" and the amazing "Dreaming of You." Their more recent output, latest album included, only has brief flashes of what made me fall in love with the band to start, but is still an interesting listen. I feel like this is too easy to overlook in a busy week, though, and there's nothing that dives out at me to outright recommend it as a listen as a result. I still hope this band comes back to doing something amazing someday, though.
Recommendation: Not worth your time this week.

Artist: The Violent Femmes
Album: We Can Do Anything
Quick Description: First album in 15 years by beloved rock act.
Why You Should Listen: You're a huge, huge Violent Femmes fan. Like, huge.
Overall Thoughts: This might be the worst thing I've heard in a long time, and that's no lie. This might be a fans-only affair, as it's not-funny funny and it feels old and dated. Nothing redeeming I could find in it means that we should just move along.
Recommendation: A terrible, unfortunate incident.

Artist: The Struts
Album: Everyone Wants The Struts
Quick Description: Straightforward British rock music.
Why You Should Listen: You like your rock with a lot of polish and swagger.
Overall Thoughts: I mentioned their EP at some point last year, and the full album is out now and it's also pretty solid. It's straightforward, radio-friendly rock music that I kind of hate that I liked as much as I did. This isn't going to blow your mind, but think about if The Darkness was a serious act, or if The Strokes were just starting out now, and this might be what you're looking for.
Recommendation: I hate to love this, but I love this.

Artist: Frank Turner
Album: Mittens
Quick Description: A quick hit of Frank Turner for your ear-holes.
Why You Should Listen: It's Frank Turner.
Overall Thoughts: We love Frank Turner here, and that's why I'm highlighting what's basically an EP/maxi-single featuring a radio-ready mix of "Mittens" with some other songs. It's better than what it sounds like it is, to be honest, and might be the type of thing to send your friends who aren't quite on the Frank Turner bandwagon yet.
Recommendation: A fun listen, quick and easy.

Artist: Sean Lennon
Album: Ava's Possessions
Quick Description: A film score/soundtrack effort.
Why You Should Listen: You're a fan of Sean Lennon or of film scores in general.
Overall Thoughts: Far from a traditional album, this definitely fits the mold of film scores, for certain. It has moments, but, overall, there's not much here for anyone but the biggest Sean Lennon fans or film fans in general.
Recommendation: Not recommended on a whole.

Artist: Loretta Lynn
Album: Full Circle
Quick Description: New album from the country music legend.
Why You Should Listen: Loretta Lynn should be an automatic.
Overall Thoughts: This is not as raw and rugged as Van Lear Rose, her effort with Jack White nearly a decade ago, but it is a pretty solid legacy album by one of country's greatest. It's not changing the world by any stretch, but this is an album that's worth hearing from a voice that we may not get to hear again. I love me some Loretta Lynn, so give this a listen.
Recommendation: A quality album overall.

Artist: La Sera
Album: Music for Listening to Music To
Quick Description: Ryan Adams-produced fourth album from the ex-Vivian Girls project.
Why You Should Listen: La Sera and Ryan Adams are both usually great...
Overall Thoughts: ...but this did not benefit from the collaboration. Gone is the forceful immediacy that leads way to a more Adams-esque quiet, tentative styling that might work if La Sera had not established itself as something else up to this point. I hate the wasted potential on what is possibly a solid album, and I need to spend more time with it, but, in a week with so much good music, being just okay isn't enough. A rare misstep from all parties.
Recommendation: Might be worth a listen, but it's far from mandatory.


Also out this week:

* Ninja Sex Party - Under the Covers (a really, really faithful cover album)
* Kendrick Lamar - Untitled/Unmastered (Track 8 is gold, but Kendrick isn't really for me)
* Robert Pollard - Of Course You Are (Consistently Robert Pollard throughout)
* Big Ups - Before a Million Universes

Mal Devisa - Kiid

How can I truly explain Mal Devisa's Kiid to you? The album brings so many elements that you would never consider to mesh well into one of the most diverse offerings I've heard in years. A song like "Sea of limbs" is folk, but isn't quite as straightforward as that sounds. It's far too bass heavy, despite having no percussion, and reminds me a lot of Leyla McCalla. "In My Neighborhood" is more of an organic dance songs, with a chopped up feel like you get with Tune-Yards. Songs like "Live Again" and "Everybody Knows" have a Billie Holiday element to them without being jazz. And then out of nowhere comes "FAT" and "Dominatrix," which would make Mos Def and Public Enemy proud. Somehow Mal Devisa makes this whole thing work.

Kiid is available now on DZ Tapes. You can get your copy on Mal Devisa's Bandcamp. For some more information, be sure to like her on Facebook.

Margo Price - "Hurtin' (On the Bottle)"

Photo by Angelina Castillo for Third Man Records

Margo Price is going to be a tough one to categorize for most people. She's definitely country, like real country as opposed to whatever passes for mainstream country now. She's too mainstream and polished to be considered outlaw country. But she's not a throwback to the days of Johnny Cash or Patsy Cline. Margo Price is straight outta the sparkling, rhinestone 70s country of Dolly Parton and Gram Parsons. I think her only current contemporary would be Jason Isbell. She's raw enough for the alt-country crowd but accessible enough for your mom to like her.

Margo Price's debut album, Midwest Farmer's Daughter, will be out March 25 on Third Man Records. You can listen to "Hurtin' (On the Bottle)" below. For more information, please check out her website. She also happens to be playing the aforementioned Green River Festival this year. Get your tickets for that here.

Friday Freebie: Spirit Family Reunion - Harvest Fest Live

This might be one of my favorite selections we've featured on Friday Freebie so far. Spirit Family Reunion are one of those bands you need to experience live. As great as their albums are, it's just impossible to capture their live show's joy and exuberance. Live they just have so much energy, and not like how some other current folk acts show energy by jumping around on stage unnecessarily. Their playing has the energy just from the pure love of playing.

While Harvest Festival Live, recorded at the Harvest Festival in Brooklyn last September, can't quite duplicate the experience of seeing Spirit Family Reunion live, it's the closest thing we might ever get. The band plays the favorites like "Wake Up Rounder!" and "I Want to Be Relieved." It's a great retrospective of their earlier material and perfect for old fans and for anyone discovering the band. They even added a few songs by their friends (Big Kitty, The Horse-Eyed Men, and Innov Gnawa) to give them a bit more exposure. That might be the most Spirit Family Reunion thing about this whole album.

Harvest Festival Live is available for free on Spirit Family Reunion's Bandcamp. (You can only listen to four songs on the site, but you can download the whole thing for free.) While it's free, you can always use the "Pay What You Want" feature to throw something to the band. Be sure to check out their website for more information.