Alejandro Escovedo: Real Animal

Alejandro Escovedo's ninth studio album Real Animal was my most anticipated release of 2008. I only discovered his music last year, but have since then obsessively devoured most of his previous releases and view him as one of the greatest living artists in any genre. I generally prefer Alejandro's string embellished Americana ballads over his raucous punk-rock barnburners. So I was initially disappointed by this new release, which is heavy on the noise. There were no new "Baby's Got New Plans" or "Rosalie" to immediately grab my heart in their gentle fist. But on the second listen, the album hit me full force and I felt like an absolute idiot for not recognizing the genius in it the first time around.


Nancy called up to our room, said: "come & help with Sid"
we went down & looked around, the dealer let us in
we thought he was hysterical, the knife it was a joke
don't know if he did what they said he did, nobody really knows

Silence of the Lambs director Jonathan Demme is another raving Alejandro fanatic and wrote the liner notes for the new album, which features guest guitarist Chuck Prophet. "Always A Friend" rips it open with a catchy beat and polished rock rhythm. "Chelsea Hotel '78" - which revisits the singer's stay at the infamous hotel during the Sid and Nancy mess - digs into a deeper grind on the verses and hints at Escovedo's punk capabilities on the chorus squawk.

The intro of the stand out "Sister Lost Soul" takes a sudden dip into retro-pop, but the rest of the melody resurrects Alejandro's signature string accented Americana sound. The pretty interlude is broken by the guitar cruncher "Smoke", which sounds like it's also possessed by a demonic violin. Once again, Alejandro brilliantly weaves folk and classical instrumentation into ear bludgeoning rock thunder.

Bluesy harmonica mingles with a touch of twang in the stunner "People (We're Only Gonna Live So Long)", followed by the melancholy haunt "Golden Bear". The pristine beauty of the string intro of "Hollywood Hills" makes me wish Alejandro would record a classical instrumental album. Then the lovely ballad "Swallows of San Juan" and the finale "Slow Down" ultimately seized my heart during the second rotation.

I beg the universe, please send Alejandro Escovedo back to Mountain Stage. These songs must be awe-inspiring in concert.

Alejandro Escovedo - Always A Friend (mp3)

Alejandro Escovedo - Always A Friend (mp3)

Alejandro Escovedo Official Site

Buy @ Amazon

Mp3s: Pacific!, Vanilla Swingers, Shannon McArdle, & James Jackson Toth

Pacific! - Sunset Blvd remix (mp3)
Pacific! - Runway To Elsewhere (Breakbot Remix) (mp3)
Pacific! - Hot Lips (mp3)

Upbeat, airy Polyphonic Spree-like. The whole album is fun background music, just not deep enough to devote a full review to.


Buy @ Amazon



Vanilla Swingers - Danger in the Past (mp3)

Dreamy, feminine electro-pop that I found through Salad Days Music. Their album will be released on July 28th and available as a free download at the band's website then.



Shannon McArdle - Poison My Cup (mp3)

Debut solo effort from former member of the Mendoza Line.

Buy @ Amazon


James Jackson Toth - Doreen (mp3)
James Jackson Toth - Look in on Me (mp3)
James Jackson Toth - Beulah the Good (mp3)

Tennessee singer-songwriter acoustic boy type.

Buy @ Amazon

The Rye

The Rye are a five piece band from Galway, Ireland. I stumbled upon them while browsing CDBaby after writing the Interference review. The Rye call their music "savage driven ceoil" (Irish for "music"). The band's modern rock approach to traditional Irish instrumentation may seem like a familiar gimmick on paper, but the added elements of jazz and psychedelica make their music sound fresh and unique.



The bouncy opener "Banana Song" hints at the Celtic Punk sound of The Pogues and Flogging Molly, yet there's a quirky jauntiness to The Rye's music that sets them apart. The instrumental "Arkle Mountain" takes a surprising turn into a more traditional Irish sound, without losing the band's merry spirit.

The tinny pluck intro of "Dance With You" melts into a solemn, rough voiced ballad that will surely earn lead singer Kevin Melly comparisons to Tom Wait. Fiddler Anna Faulkner's sweet backing soprano adds balance and harmony to the tune.

"Fishin'" makes yet another sudden style shift into swaying psychedelic jam band territory, sounding like The Doors covering a Grateful Dead song. By the time "Syko" breaks into a spunky, string splashed jazz groove, you'll no longer be floored by The Rye's capriciousness. Maybe.

The Rye - Dance With You (mp3)
The Rye - Syko (mp3)

The Rye MySpace

Buy @ CDBaby

Noa Babayof: From A Window to A Wall

Noa Babayof is an Israeli singer-songwriter who has been likened to Nico and Joni Mitchell. The comparisons are occasionally valid, but Noa's music more often seems to possess a Medieval folk influence. Several of the songs on her debut From A Window to A Wall are beautifully delicate and absolutely captivating, but the album can be a tad monotonous when taken as a whole.



Noa Babayof - Indian Queen (mp3)

Noa Babayof MySpace

Buy CD or Mp3s @ Amazon

Golden Animals: Free Your Mind And Win A Pony

When I read a comparison to The Doors, I knew I would love Golden Animals and I certainly do! Lead singer-guitarist Tommy Eisner's voice has a deep timbre similar to that of my beloved Jim Morrison. The music on the band's debut full-length album Free Your Mind And Win A Pony blends Morrison's desert sage vibe with a modernized Mamas & Papas mellow choral pop style and a dash of The Cramps swamp psychobilly grind. The other half of the Golden Animals duo is drummer Linda Beecroft, and their magnificent album will be released on July 1st.



"The Steady Roller" is by far the stand out track, the grand coalescence of all of Golden Animals' influences. The subtle, swirling instrumentation and feminine background coos of Plant/Krauss' Raising Sand collide with The Doors' "Roadhouse Blues", and Eisner's robust, seismic voice keeps perfect step with the brilliant arrangement.

The other stunners are "My My My" and "I Want You To Come". Tommy's pyrotechnic guitar and Linda's drum thunder blast a cavern into the verses around the tremendously entrancing chorus on the former, and his levitating voice brings a whole new meaning to the word wail on the latter.



The hypnotic "Queen Mary" and catchy "Try On Me" dust bluesy psychedelica and surf rock with rockabilly oscillation. The seductive Morrison swagger returns on "Follow Me Down", which falls into the deepest chasm of Eisner's voice with sprinkles of Beecroft's gilded harmony.

Though the Golden Animals cover of the traditional "Turn You Round (Don't Let Nobody)" cannot compare with the divine Mavis Staples, this rhythmic rock rendition is still mighty fine. The liner notes say this take was inspired by the Blind Willie & Kate McTell version.



The shimmering finale "Darkness & Light" allows Linda's voice to share the spotlight at last, making for an interesting balance between her soothing sweet soprano and Eisner's gut-quaking vocal trench.

Golden Animals - Try On Me (mp3)

Golden Animals MySpace

Buy @ Amazon (not available until July 1st)

Pre-order @ Label

Contrast Podcast: Mysteries and Conspiracies

The new episode of Contrast Podcast is up, this time with the theme of "Mysteries and Conspiracies" and an introduction by yours truly.

I selected Interference's "Psycho Jill", from their brilliant self-titled album. I've temporarily re-uploaded the song for those that missed it the first time around. As I said in the Contrast introduction, the song was inspired by a serial killer and features a German scat. Seems pretty mysterious to me...

Contrast Podcast - Mysteries and Conspiracies (mp3)
Interference - Psycho Jill (mp3 expired)

Amos Lee: Last Days At The Lodge

Amos Lee's third album Last Days At The Lodge will be released on June 24th by Blue Note Records. Produced by Don Was, the album often has a more serious tone than Lee's previous effort Supply And Demand. That signature organic sound is still very present, but is now refreshingly simmered with a heavier dose of blues and Southern rock.


now they got me here at the county with his blood still on my fists. well the boys in blue, they don't play no games. all the sheriff said to me was this...you better tell me the truth, son
The foreboding intensity of "Listen" opens the album, showing a broodier side to Lee. The mood suddenly shifts into a seductive r&b groove with "Won't Let Me Go" and "Baby I Want You", and "It Started To Rain" is a soulful post-breakup rumination.

The true stunners, though, are the jailhouse blues and Southern swagger of "Truth" and especially "Street Corner Preacher". Lee has most certainly progressed as a singer, songwriter, and musician.

street corner preacher with the angry face.
he got two years off for good behavior,
back in the neighborhood working for the savior.

Amos Lee - Ease Back (mp3)

Amos Lee Official Site
Amos Lee MySpace

Buy @ Amazon

Val Emmich: Little Daggers

Intelligent pop is so rare and refreshing. Val Emmich is a singer-songwriter, actor - most notably in the "Cougars" episode of 30 Rock - and first time novelist whose sixth album Little Daggers will be released on September 30th. The album contains an abundance of infectious pop melodies without sacrificing lyrical or vocal substance.



The opening tracks "The Lucky Ones", "Get On With It", and "Got A Habit Now" - which reminds me a little of the shinier side of The Cure - are probably the catchiest numbers on the album, but even the more melancholy songs have peppy arrangements. "Hurt More Later" is good example of Emmich's ability to mask cynical lyrics beneath a pretty pop melody. Little Daggers is a great soundtrack for summer.

Val Emmich - Get On With It (mp3)

Val Emmich Official Site
Val Emmich MySpace

Buy @ Amazon

Allison Crowe: Little Light

Allison Crowe's new album Little Light will be released on May 2nd. I posted a song from the new album last week and just received my advance of the CD. Though in some ways the new album plays like a sequel to This Little Bird, the inclusion of live recordings and the general organic style are closer to her awesome Live At Wood Hall collection. However, the earnest howls of the past often take a backseat in this song cycle to a more somber maturity in the vein of Joni Mitchell. If this change in style is a portent of things to come, I'll miss hearing Allison's unearthly keens rip their way out of her throat... though I understand that's the price that sometimes must be paid for a songwriter's talent to grow.



Little Light opens with "Northern Lights", a gentle acoustic ballad that I posted last July from Allison's performance at the John Lennon Northern Lights Festival in Durness, Scotland. Though I must say I love when Allison belts out the big notes, there's a quiet beauty about the tune that better serves the emotion of the lyrics. And Crowe does let out one wail toward the end of the song.

"Angels" and the cover of Cyndi Lauper's "Time After Time" were recorded live in Canada in 2006. She also tackles Matthew Good's "Running for Home" and Phil Ochs' "When I'm Gone", replacing the dry wistfulness of the better known Ani Difranco rendition with her signature bleeding heart interpretation. I believe that Allison Crowe is the only living person - with the possible exception of Glen Hansard - that can pour their whole being into any cover and make it sound like an entirely new song.

The fervent, mesmeric, piano hammering extended version of "Disease" - originally featured on Live At Wood Hall - is a live recording from last year. "Happy People" begins with some wry humor, but eventually the song becomes possessed as Allison's heartfelt cries mix with a backing choir of voices. As I told her manager when I first heard "Hold Back", I would chew my arm off to sing like Allison. Though I guess that would make it difficult to shred a piano like she does, which seems to be half the fun.

Allison Crowe - Northern Lights (mp3)
Allison Crowe - Disease (mp3)
Allison Crowe - Hold Back (mp3)

Allison Crowe Official Site

Buy CD

Allison Crowe CD Contest

Allison Crowe: Hold Back Mp3

Another favorite artist of mine will release a new album next month. Allison Crowe's Little Light is tentatively set for release in May, and following is a song from the new CD. I'll hold my comments for the full album review, but as always I'm in total awe of Allison's voice...

Allison Crowe - Hold Back (mp3)

Anna Ternheim: Halfway To Fivepoints

Halfway To Fivepoints is Swedish singer-songwriter Anna Ternheim's first official full-length release in the U.S. Anna's original work at times hints at the dark quirkiness of My Brightest Diamond or Björk, but more often rests in a brighter space. The stand out tracks are the opener "Girl Laying Down" and the slower acoustic cover of Fleetwood Mac's "Little Lies".



Anna Ternheim - To Be Gone (mp3)

Anna Ternheim Official Site

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Tokyo Police Club: Elephant Shell

Just when I thought I was sick of "indie-rock" boy bands, Saddle Creek Records released Tokyo Police Club's Elephant Shell. Led by singer David Monks, the Ontario band successfully fuse New Wave charm with "indie-rock" noise.



The opening tracks "Centennial" and "In A Cave" sound deceptively like a rougher, less literary version of The Decemberists or an amplified rock variant of The Lucksmiths. Then "Graves" and "Juno" kick in with loud beats and New Wave keyboards.

The stunner "Tessellate" is an infectious piano embellished handclap fest. "The Sixties Remake" is the kind of grandiose ditty The Killers wish they could make and is followed by the mesmeric clap and chime jaunt "The Harrowing Adventures Of...".

Tokyo Police Club - In A Cave (mp3)

Tokyo Police Club Official Site

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Shelley Short: Water For The Day

Shelley Short's Water For The Day is being released today by Hush Records - home to Laura Gibson and former label of White Hinterland's Casey Dienel. The album's title was inspired by a dream Shelley had that apparently caused her to shout "Water for the day!" in her sleep. I'm a belated arrival on the Shelly Short bandwagon, as my current lack of internet access at home means that digital albums are a hassle to review. But Shelly's Water For The Day was certainly worth the trouble and time. Her music shows that a good voice and charismatic playing style can make even the most simple of arrangements absolutely enchanting.



Shelly's vocals and the underlying melody of the opener "Silver & Gold" have a charming almost Appalachian twang to them, set adrift on waves of guitar and strings. That down home angel voice continues to float through the acoustics of "Swimming" and the chiming buoyancy of "How Grand".

"Godamn Thing" plummets into ominous depths, then "Further & Further" gradually breaks the surface for the brief quirky carnival haunt "25". "The Getalong" preserves the carousel appeal of its preceding song while partially resurrecting the quaint style of the opening tracks.

Shelley Short - Swimming (mp3)
Shelley Short - 4 Legs & Light (mp3)

Shelley Short MySpace

Buy CD

My Brightest Diamond: A Thousand Shark's Teeth

As I mentioned last month, My Brightest Diamond's A Thousand Shark's Teeth will be released on June 17th by Asthmatic Kitty Records. I received an advance copy of the CD almost two months, but was asked to hold my review until now in order to include an mp3. Such are the perils of writing a legal blog. This sophomore release by the Shara Worden vehicle is a mostly satisfying sequel to her darkly elegant debut. I only say "mostly" because I would love to hear Shara break out of her style box. But the seeming lack of diversity doesn't detract from the beauty of Shara's music, and is understandable considering that the songs on this album were written before and after the release of her debut.



The content of A Thousand Shark's Teeth was apparently inspired by the paintings of German artist Anslem Kiefer, the photographs of Robert ParkeHarrison (also reflected in the sepia toned landscape of the album's cover art), Jean-Pierre Jeunet's films (I'm guessing more Amélie than Alien Resurrection!), and Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland - all wrapped in the atmospheric orchestration of marimbas, harps, clarinets, French horns, guitars, and vibraphones... not to mention Shara's trembling soprano.

"Inside a Boy" slips in with a graceful, murky arrangement and haunting vocals that are signature Shara, with churning guitar accents. The song - like many on the album - would make a lovely Radiohead and PJ Harvey (or Björk) collaboration, if they were ever so inclined to record a cover. "The Ice & The Storm" begins with simple heartbeat percussion and tinkling piano, slowly rising on waves of strings and rapturous vocals.

"If I Were Queen" is my favored track - so subtle and beautiful with only soft strings supporting Shara's ethereal quiver. "From The Top Of The World" drops into a deeper, sensual beat. Other stunners are the dramatic "Black and Costaud" - which borrows lyrics from an opera by Maurice Ravel - and the exotic instrumentation of "Bass Player". Shara's seraphic voice really takes flight in "Like a Sieve".

If you missed it the first time around, I wrote a track by track comparison of Shara's previous album Bring Me The Workhorse and its remix counterpart Tear It Down.

My Brightest Diamond - Inside a Boy (mp3)
My Brightest Diamond - The Diamond (mp3)

My Brightest Diamond Official Site
MBD MySpace

I assume you'll be able to buy the album here on the release date.

Neva Dinova: You May Already Be Dreaming

Neva Dinova's You May Already Be Dreaming will be released on April 8th by Saddle Creek Records. I almost didn't bother playing the whole album, because at first it sounded like a typical Omaha "indie" band. But then "Clouds" and the catchy "Supercomputer" kick in with a deeper rock sound, so I kept listening. Unfortunately, most of the album falls back into the blander sound of the opening tracks, but the guitar cruncher "What You Want" stands out. I'd definitely recommend the whole CD to fans of other Saddle Creek artists like Bright Eyes, but my tolerance for that style has all but disappeared. Still, I do like the aforementioned tracks.

Neva Dinova - Clouds (mp3)

Neva Dinova MySpace

Buy CD

Jon Regen: Let It Go Mp3

NYC singer-songwriter and pianist Jon Regen is one of the few artists to email me lately that I actually like. His song "Let It Go" has a bluesy acoustic sound. The tune is the title track from his new album, which features Martha Wainwright and Andy Summers of The Police among others.

Jon Regen - Let It Go (mp3 expired)

Jon Regen Official Site
Jon on MySpace

Buy CD or Mp3s

Freddie Stevenson: All My Strange Companions

Freddie Stevenson's All My Strange Companions will be released on April 15th. Stevenson is a Scottish singer-songwriter who counts among his fans Tom Hanks, Scarlett Johansson, and The Waterboys lead singer Mike Scott. His music is similar to that of Scott's solo material - heartfelt, acoustic fare.

Freddie Stevenson - Easy Now (mp3)
Freddie Stevenson - If An Alien Could See Us From Afar (mp3)
Freddie Stevenson - Brand New Heart (mp3)
Freddie Stevenson - If You Don't Kiss Me (mp3)

Freddie Stevenson Official Site

Buy the CD

mr. Gnome: Pirates Mp3

mr. Gnome's first full length album Deliver This Creature will be released on May 6th. The band is composed of singer-guitarist Nicole Barille and drummer Sam Meister. They've already been compared to PJ Harvey, Portishead, Cat Power, Death From Above 1979, and even the incomparable Diamanda Galas. I wouldn't go that far, but I definitely like their music.

mr. Gnome - Pirates (mp3)

mr. Gnome Official Site
mr. Gnome MySpace

Pre-orders are not yet available, check the above links in May.

The Wilders: Someone's Got To Pay

The Wilders' Someone's Got To Pay will be released on April 15th. I don't know if the tax day pun was intentional. The music on the album is made of such diverse ingredients that the band could just as easily share a stage with barnburners like Sarah Borges & The Broken Singles and nostalgic pop acts like She & Him as with demented revivalists The Felice Brothers.



"Wild Old Nory" roars in on a punked up Ozark wave of quaking Dobro and lap steel chased by demonic fiddle. The traditional "Broken Down Gambler" follows with a much more conventional yet still hyperactive fiddle and mandolin arrangement. The honky tonk wailer "My Final Plea" sounds like Kentucky Headhunters covering Jerry Lee Lewis, while lead singer Ike Sheldon takes on an Oberst melancholy in the acoustic tune "Someone's Got To Pay". And the finale "Goodbye (I've Seen It All)" takes a surprising turn into retro pop.

The somber piano instrumental "an old murder ballad to life" leads into (and foreshadows) the prologue of the astounding "Sittin' On A Jury" saga, which was inspired by the real life jilted lover murder trial on which Wilders guitarist Phil Wade served as juror. The multi-staged narrative is divided into five installments - the eerie "Prologue", stand out stomper "The Prosecution", mournful banjo on "The Defense", the quiet twang of "The Verdict", and distorted jailhouse fiddle in "Epilogue" - that are staggered throughout the album and each proceeded by a haunting piano instrumental.

The Wilders - My Final Plea (live) (mp3)

The Wilders Official Site

Pre-order the CD

The Shondes: The Red Sea

The Shondes are a quartet whose dramatic rock music has been likened to Sleater-Kinney, Patti Smith, and Rasputina. I can't agree wholeheartedly with such loftly comparisons, but there is a definite appeal in their fusion of classical melody and punk crunch. Composed of drummer Temim Fruchter, bassist Louisa Solomon, guitarist Ian Brannigan, and Elijah Oberman on violin (all but Brannigan contribute vocals), the band is named after the Yiddish word meaning "shame", "disgrace", "pity", and/or "outrage". The Red Sea is their debut album.



Songs like "Don't Look Down", "Your Monster", and "The Start Of Everything" splatter haunting strings across retro electro-Goth verses to create the female spawn of Bauhaus. "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow" stays in the dark, but spins some pop into the arrangement under Lousia Solomon's deep wail.

"Watched The Temple Fall" punches punk yell holes into the string work and the frenetic violin is sucked into a rock convulsion in "The Mother And The Colony", but the stand out track "At The Water" has a far more interesting Jewish and classical invocation in its stirring rock melody.

The Shondes - Don't Look Down (mp3)
The Shondes - Let's Go (mp3)
The Shondes - Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow (mp3)

The Shondes Official Site
The Shondes MySpace

Buy it at Amazon
Buy it at CDBaby