North Carolina indie-folksters Schooner have just released their latest EP Duck Kee Sessions exclusively on CyTunes.org, a music downloading site where 100% of the proceeds go to cancer research. The quartet also enlisted the help of some local artists to create the album artwork for the EP, and you can check out all 14 unique covers by clicking here (four of which are displayed above). Here’s track one off the album, “Feel Better”, and you can swing by here to grab your copy of the EP and contribute to cancer research at the same time. Sweet.
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This is probably one of the coolest gadgets I’ve ever seen a band release before. The band is Uniform Motion, and what they’ve done here is pretty unique. This gadget allows you to create a customizable greeting card, featuring the band performing any song off their latest release Life, and a personalized message that appears on their backdrop. But what makes it even sweeter is the ability to toggle on and off the drums, vocals, and guitar at any moment during the playback. Also, this song is most excellent.
Above is the card publicity firm Crash Avenue sent us, click here to make one of your own.
A while back we did a post on The Seedy Seeds‘ “The Feeders.” Here’s an excellent live video of them performing “On The Subject Of Our Past Selves,” at The Green Building in Louisville, KY. They are the first of many bands to perform on the “Green Building Sessions.”
If you live near some sort of wooded area, you might want to load this album onto your iPod and head towards that direction. Peter Broderick’s 2008 release Home is a true folk gem, with acoustic lines and harmonies that I can’t get enough of. Give this album a good listen and you’ll have both a full grown beard and an extensive flannel collection in no time. Here are two of my favorites from the album.
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This is a great music video directed and animated by Eric Powers for The Lovely Sparrows version of Yo La Tengo’s cover of Big Star’s song “Take Care”. And this is an excellent song by the way. Enjoy!
Here’s the first video off Swedish folksters Fredrik’s (say that 10 times fast) upcoming album Trilogi. I get sort of a Matthew Bellamy vibe from this guy’s voice by the way, but that’s probably just me. This video is pretty sweet, and I think the album art is even sweeter. Be on the lookout for it’s January 26th release on The Kora Records. And in case you were wondering: “vinter” means winter, and “barn” means children.
I’ve never been a fan of the majority of new music found on the radio these days, for reasons I’m sure most of you would agree with me on. Down here in the Big D we’ve got a new station on 91.7, KXT, “Music To The Core.” If you live here, I’m sure you’ve tuned in. Last night I heard a song by Freelance Whales and I was immediately drawn in by their electronic-folkpop goodness. I got a hold of their only album, Weathervanes, and it’s extremely infectious, there’s not a bad song in the bunch. Armed with everything from a banjo & harmonium to a microkorg & a waterphone (?), they’ve been generating quite the buzz in areas around Brooklyn & Queens playing street shows. I pulled this video from their myspace page of them playing in an abandoned farmhouse in the New York City Farm Colony. You can purchase the album from iTunes here.
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The first time I heard “Highway Patrol,” I was extremely pulled in by Rolla Olak’s powerful vocals and how it echoed lightly through soft drums and haunting guitar lines. Olak’s LP is a solid, dark & moody folk rock album. Here are my two favorites off the album, both of which have been stuck in my head all week. If you get the chance, listen to these songs next time you’re driving at night, they’re fantastic on the open road.
photo by Tessa Angus
Artist: Rolla Olak
Album: LP
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A couple years back I listened to Devendra’s Cripple Crow for the first time & then continued to listen to only that album for a month straight at least. I was so drawn in by his style; deep, yet simple lyrics & a uniquely shaky voice. Since then, every new song of his that I hear is like opening presents on Christmas morning, I’m always very anxious and excited to hear them, I never know what to expect. His new album, What We Will Be, has an extremely warm, laid back feeling to it, very simple and catchy tunes. “Rats” is my favorite off the album, and it’s definitely the heaviest of the tracks; hope you enjoy it!
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Artist: Devendra Banhart Song: Rats.mp3 Album: What We Will Be
Our good friends Mont Lyons are gearin up for the release of their first EP, Sleep Talk, and from the videos and tracks we’ve heard over the past few months, this album is something to get excited about. Those of you in Boulder, CO, be sure and check them out this coming Saturday the 17th at The Cup from 4-9PM. Here’s their latest “Love Over Mind”, heard exclusively on Newdust.
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Brad Oberhofer just might be the next big name in indie music. The only problem is you can’t find him anywhere. Nobody is talking about him. A Google search of his full name brings up some interesting results, one of which was an article written by the Weekly Volcano last month, other than that there’s really nothing. A Google search of simply “Oberhofer” is even more random and depressing. But upon listening to his music you’ll have the same urge I immediately had to spread the word as quickly as possible. What’s most impressive is that Oberhofer records as a solo artist. His vocals are reminiscent of Avey Tare with just a hint of Britt Daniel, perfectly complemented by his simple yet affective blend of folk, pop, and electronic music. I’ll get out of the way and let the music speak for itself. Here are a few of his works with a quick Q&A below:
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Newdust: What instrument did you start out on, and how long have you been making music?
Brad Oberhofer: I started writing music as a competitive freestyle rapper in about fifth grade. It’s been about nine years.
ND: How do your live performances compare to the recorded stuff?
BO: It completely varies. I’ve played guitar with my hands and drums with my feet, with only a drummer, with another guitarist and a drummer, with a string section, and a few other formats. Recorded music and live shows have become completely separate art forms, so I try to add things to live shows that aren’t in my recordings and vice-versa.
ND: Who are some of your favorite artists right now (with records that have come out in the last 2 years)?
BO: One record that came out in the past year, Clues’ self titled album. I haven’t been able to stop listening to it, I’d consider it a huge influence.
I’m really into Okay, a project by this guy Marty Anderson. One of my favorite albums of all time is his “High Road”.
ND: What records have had the most influence on your sound?
BO: As the years go by, the influences change. For a while it was Arcade Fire’s self titled EP, at times that Okay album has had a huge influence, and this summer that Clues album really affected things.
ND: Have you sent the EP to any record labels or are you just gonna stick with the self-promotion gig?
BO: I have given the EP to a few places. I really just want as many people to hear it as possible.
ND: How can fans get a hold of your current stuff, and when can we expect another album?
BO: I’ve been mailing it to people who message me or email me. I’m also working on ways to sell it online. I’ve been coming up with a lot of new material lately, and you could probably expect something in the next three months. Also, I have a Myspace page. The URL, myspace.com/oberhofer, is taken by some man who lives in New Jersey, who by the looks of it, appears to be a pretty nice guy.
I can’t stop listening to this album to save my life. Julie Ann Bee’s pure and genuine vocal work will seep out of your speakers and swirl around you in a warm and inviting way that will draw you in and stay with you for a long time. Sea of Bee’s self-recorded Bee Eee Pee is a perfectly polished, extremely sincere EP that gives us much to look forward to. Now backed by some additional talent, Julie and her crew will release their first full-length album, Songs for the Ravens in 2010.
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Artist: Sea of Bees Song: Willis.mp3 Album: Bee Eee Pee
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