ChordStrike

SoundUnwound Sessions: The Lonely Forest

  

The Lonely Forest stopped by our offices yesterday for a private performance. I had the pleasure of sitting down with the guys for a few minutes before they played, and I was instantly transformed into a lasting fan.

There are a few things you should know about this band. First, they are genuine. Within seconds of sitting down, I felt as if I was speaking with lifelong friends, and I laughed as if I was watching a Judd Apatow movie (e.g. they prank called their manager from speaker phone and pretended to be a lost love from 1988). As bassist Eric Sturgeon put it, “I hope we don’t come across as a**holes, we are nice guys.” Secondly, their band name comes from a line in a book from The Chronicles of Narnia, The Silver Chair. Third, and most importantly, they are talented. So talented in fact, that when Death Cab for Cutie’s Chris Walla was asked a few years ago on CNN what he was listening to, he mentioned them by name.

From that mention grew a beautiful relationship that resulted in TLF signing with Walla’s label, Trans, and Walla producing their newest full length record, Arrows. According to guitarist Tony Ruland, “Beers were had, questions were asked,” and then the deal was sealed.

As for their music, The Lonely Forest embodies Northwest indie pop rock with a lot of soul, some deep questions, and a bit of self deprecation. Lead singer and songwriter John Van Deusen said, “I’m trying to take myself less seriously and stop trying to tackle these really big ideas in my music. I want to write less literally, and let the music I like shape what I write.”

You can buy Arrows and stream four full tracks (like the addictive “Turn Off This Song and Go Outside”) here.

-Erin O.

SoundUnwound's editorial team write about the latest big music news and quirky stories which catch the eye. We also post a selection of these news stories on Chordstrike; for much, much more, visit SoundUnwound.com, the new music site from IMDb and Amazon. Follow us at twitter.com/soundunwound.

Music For Alabama

Birmingham-based musician and photographer Caleb Chancey decided that he needed to do something to help the people throughout his state in the wake of the devastating storms that tore through Alabama on April 27th this year.

Says Chancey, “I started asking myself what that could be. I could swing a hammer, but so could 1,000's of other amazing people who were already volunteering. Then I started asking what I was uniquely placed to do. I decided to write down a list of all my [musical] friends who I believed would want to give one of their songs away for charity. I composed an email with the subject, ‘Dear Friends, I need your help.' Their response is this compilation.”

Artists like Birmingham’s Jon Black, Nashville’s Matthew Perryman Jones, and Seattle-based Dan Phelps & Matt Chamberlain contributed to the effort. “This compilation is composed of both local and national artists,” emphasized Chancey. “I want this to be stressed, so that people can remember that we're all in this together. When our neighbors hurt, we hurt. They need us, so let's go.”

“The impact of these storms is incredibly hard to fathom. I drove around a place called Pratt City the day following. As far as you could see, there were cars lining the highway. Why? Because they had no place to go. No homes. No land. Nothing.”

You can buy the album for $10 (or donate more!) on bandcamp by clicking here. According to the site, “All proceeds from this album will support the Red Cross’s effort to rebuild what has been shaken.”

-Erin O.

SoundUnwound's editorial team write about the latest big music news and quirky stories which catch the eye. We also post a selection of these news stories on Chordstrike; for much, much more, visit SoundUnwound.com, the new music site from IMDb and Amazon. Follow us at twitter.com/soundunwound.

Thursday Throwdown: Fleet Foxes’ Helplessness Blues

 

The Fleet Foxes’ long awaited second full length album, Helplessness Blues, came out last week. Critics seem to have a lot to say about both this band and this record, so let’s jump right in.

NME’s Gavin Haynes comes right out and says it: “Fleet Foxes suck. They’re the soy-latte house band of Starbucks.” He goes on to comment about Helplessness Blues, “They lull you in with their flawlessly polished music and hey-nonny-nonny you into a hypnagogic state, with the aim of making the world safe for the bland, the dull and the wi-fi enabled.” He goes on to say, “It’s Pecknold’s milksop voice that dominates, to the point that the unwilling will feel like they’re listening to Crosby, Stills, Nash & A Lonely Duck.”

Filter Magazine’s Kevin Friedman also recognizes the band’s Starbucks appeal, but casts it in a more positive light, saying they are “one of the few bands that parents, high-school teachers and most Starbucks customers could appreciate along with the hip kids.” Of the album itself he says, “Helplessness Blues is a stunning work revealing a band that has staked out a larger claim on their own style of symphonic folk, but still maintains a debt to masters like Paul Simon and Brian Wilson… It is not a common occurrence to hear an album this beautiful, well composed and consistent in a pop format.”

-Erin O.

SoundUnwound's editorial team write about the latest big music news and quirky stories which catch the eye. We also post a selection of these news stories on Chordstrike; for much, much more, visit SoundUnwound.com, the new music site from IMDb and Amazon. Follow us at twitter.com/soundunwound.

 

Midweek Distraction: Sister Hazel Sampler

 

It’s the middle of the week and you know what that means; it’s time for your Midweek Distraction and we’ve got something special for you. Today we’d like to offer you an Amazon MP3 Exclusive Sampler by Florida quintet, Sister Hazel.Click here to download the sampler, titled 11411, for free.

Formed in the early 1990’s and with a handful of albums under their belts, Sister Hazel’s distinct sound is a sun-drenched southern country, AOR (album oriented rock) vibe. Throw in a little acoustic folk, a dash of organ, and that SH have a sizeable, nationwide fan-base who affectionately call themselves “Hazelnuts” comes as little surprise. Remember late 90's radio staples "Happy or "All for You?"

With strong songwriting and good use of harmonies, the 11 tracks on the sampler are reminiscent of Blues Traveler, the Eagles, or Jimmy Buffet.

My only complaint is that the tracks seem a touch over-produced, but perhaps a scrubbed-clean sound is part of their appeal.

-Court

SoundUnwound's editorial team write about the latest big music news and quirky stories which catch the eye. We also post a selection of these news stories on Chordstrike; for much, much more, visit SoundUnwound.com, the new music site from IMDb and Amazon. Follow us at twitter.com/soundunwound.

EMI to Release Original Unheard Pink Floyd Tracks

According to Reuters, EMI plans to release a bevy of unheard songs by Pink Floyd beginning in September.

The tracks will be unearthed from archives as part of a multi-month schedule of releases, which will include collectors' box sets and re-mastered studio recordings.

The band originally signed to EMI four decades ago, but in recent years has litigated their former label over the rights to “unbundle” their albums in order to sell individual tracks online. The English rockers won that battle last fall culminating in a new five-year deal.

"We have worked together for more than a year on this program which incorporates all the elements that have made Pink Floyd one of the most inspiring forces in modern music," Roger Faxon, EMI chief executive, said in a statement.

Pink Floyd are most famous for influential and acclaimed albums 1973’s The Dark Side of the Moon, 1975’s Wish You Were Here and 1979’s epic double-whammy, The Wall.

According to EMI, Pink Floyd has sold over 200 million albums worldwide, and in the United States alone, The Dark Side of the Moon has sold 45 million copies and is the America’s third best-selling album ever. In 1996, the band was inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

-Court

SoundUnwound's editorial team write about the latest big music news and quirky stories which catch the eye. We also post a selection of these news stories on Chordstrike; for much, much more, visit SoundUnwound.com, the new music site from IMDb and Amazon. Follow us at twitter.com/soundunwound.

New Music Tuesday: A Conversation with Daniel Ellsworth

 

Civilized Man, the newest album from Nashville-based Americana indie outfit Daniel Ellsworth & the Great Lakes, came out today. I had the chance to sit down with the hilarious and warm Daniel Ellsworth, lead singer, founding member, and partial namesake for the band, to talk about the release.

“Civilized Man is special for several reasons…it was entirely fan-funded through a Kickstarter campaign,” says Ellsworth. “To have so many fans, friends, and family members who believe in what you do enough to want to support the making of an album is a very humbling experience. Without them, this record wouldn't have been possible.“

Another reason the band considers Civilized Man special is their work with producer and engineer, Mark Nevers (Andrew Bird, Bonnie "Prince" Billy, Yo La Tengo). Of the collaboration, Ellsworth says, “Mark is amazing. He has recorded some of my favorite albums of all time, so to be able to work with him was a great experience.”

Recorded in just three weeks in Nashville, Civilized Man covers a multitude of genres, borrowing sounds from blues, old country, pop, and piano rock; Ellsworth and his band mates take this chance to display their range of talents. An expert at crafting stories that make you feel like you are old friends, Ellsworth says this record is “about the struggle to overcome what the world around you wants you to be and do and say, and just be comfortable in your own shoes. Sprinkle that in with a few love stories, and, bam, you have an album.”

Now down to the good stuff.  I ask Daniel and the rest of the banda handful of questions to really get at who they are as people. 

What would your pro-wrestling name be?

• Ricky Perry (lead guitar): "Ax Hammer"
• Marshall Skinner (bass): "Berzerker!"
• Joel Wren (drums): " Russell 'Toe Blood' Rivers"
• Daniel Ellsworth: "Dr. Sandwichface"

What is something we should know about you?

• Perry: "I kiss on first dates."
• Skinner: "I drive a Volvo station wagon yet I have never taken any kids to soccer practice in it."
• Joel Wren (drums): " I want people to know that it's ok with me if they stop putting so many pictures of their babies on facebook."
• Daniel Ellsworth: "Once, in 5th grade, my parents took my sister and I out of school for a day because they got us all day unlimited passes for the theme park at Mall Of America. That day, we rode the roller coaster with Arnold Schwarzanegger while he was filming box office smash and critic favorite, Jingle All The Way."

You can buy the record here.  And you should.

-Erin O.

SoundUnwound's editorial team write about the latest big music news and quirky stories which catch the eye. We also post a selection of these news stories on Chordstrike; for much, much more, visit SoundUnwound.com, the new music site from IMDb and Amazon. Follow us at twitter.com/soundunwound.

Artist on the Rise: Ellie Goulding

 

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ellie Goulding, although you may have already become acquainted with her over the past couple weeks. Goulding performed at the reception for the recent royal wedding and this past weekend, was the guest on Saturday Night Live.

Though Goulding is already a pop star in her native Britain, across the pond, we’re just learning about this talented young artist. Check out this free Amazon exclusive version download of her song Guns and Horses from her latest album, Lights.

Shiny electro-pop with an alternately ethereal and soul-inspired voice, Goulding is a self taught guitarist, pianist, and singer. She also writes her own music, which, in the pop landscape, is becoming an increasingly rare commodity. Watch her perform her album’s title track, Lights, on SNL.

Goulding performed a cover of Sir Elton John’s “Your Song” at Prince Charles’ Buckingham Palace reception following the wedding of William and Catherine earlier that day.With such impressive talent and exposure, Goulding’s star is clearly already on the rise.

-Court

SoundUnwound's editorial team write about the latest big music news and quirky stories which catch the eye. We also post a selection of these news stories on Chordstrike; for much, much more, visit SoundUnwound.com, the new music site from IMDb and Amazon. Follow us at twitter.com/soundunwound.

Midweek Distraction: Dangerbird Records Summer Sampler

In our new feature, the Midweek Distraction, we pledge to bring you some great free music every week, so make sure to stop by on Wednesdays.

Just in time for some warmer weather, Dangerbird Records brings us their free Summer Sampler. The label is home to current hit makers Beady Eye, Oasis minus a Gallagher, and Fitz and the Tantrums, masterminds behind the funk revival song “Money Grabber.”

Dangerbird’s offerings on this freebie do not disappoint either. The sampler opens with a driving pop-rock tune from Silversun Pickups, and continues with catchy numbers like Hot Hot Heat’s “21@12." Check it out, and you just might discover your new favorite band. Will it be The Dears? Minus the Bear? Or maybe Eulogies?

According to one reviewer, “It is one of the best free Alternative Rock samplers available on Amazon.” So, don’t just take our word for it!

Check it out for free by clicking here while it lasts.

-Erin O.

SoundUnwound's editorial team write about the latest big music news and quirky stories which catch the eye. We also post a selection of these news stories on Chordstrike; for much, much more, visit SoundUnwound.com, the new music site from IMDb and Amazon. Follow us at twitter.com/soundunwound.

New Music Tuesday: GAT's Always Be Happy, But Stay Evil

 

Heavy saxophone riffs, thundering percussion, and a healthy dose of electronic treatments; Always Be Happy, But Stay Evil is a sonic interpretation of Garage A Trois’ ethos: upbeat, smart and complicated tunes coupled with a wry, sinister delivery.

Always Be Happy, But Stay Evil is the follow up to the band’s 2009 release, Power Patriot. A quartet with roots in New Orleans (drummer Stanton Moore and vibraphone/percussionist Mike Dillon), New York (keysman Marco Benevento), and Seattle (saxophonic activist Skerik), Garage A Trois is a force greater than the sum of its colossal parts.

This release finds the quartet delving further into psychedelia, super fuzzed-out melodic leads butt up against angular runs and morph into opaque squall and then, just as easily, slip into a cozy pocket of avant-funk.

Highlights include the anthemic opening track, “Omar” and the sci-fi twinkle of “Resentment Incubator” with its syncopated stomp. The math rock vibe of “Swellage” could secretly be delivering subversive messages. “The Drum Department” shines as a succinct encapsulation of the group in its finest form.

A month-long tour kicks off April 19th in Seattle before the group heads down the coast, across the Gulf, and up the East Coast. Click here for dates. To see them is to believe!!

Artist On the Rise: Generationals

This week we’d like to turn you on to New Orleans duo the Generationals, and suggest that you download their free track, Ten-Twenty-Ten from Amazon MP3. The cut is the opening track on the group’s ten-track sophomore release, Actor-Caster, and is a crisp and lively excursion into indie-pop.

The sound is mostly minimalist; piano, guitar, and a healthy dose of tambourine, but making more with less allows members Grant Widmer and Ted Joyner to demonstrate their firm handle on song craft.

Their ability to write simple, yet memorable – some that sound like throwbacks to the 1960’s, but updated with twinkling synthesizers – ups their commercial appeal. The vocal delivery seems a touch flat, but perhaps it is an affected deadpan like MGMT, but it serves to balance the synthetic and natural sounds the duo generates. I’ll wager that “Ten-Twenty-Ten” appears in at least one television advertisement before too long, so check it out now so you will be in the know.\

-Court

SoundUnwound's editorial team write about the latest big music news and quirky stories which catch the eye. We also post a selection of these news stories on Chordstrike; for much, much more, visit SoundUnwound.com, the new music site from IMDb and Amazon. Follow us at twitter.com/soundunwound.