Jeremy Squires covers Jill Andrews’ new song “Rust or Gold”

Pull up a chair and let me tell you a short story about a song and serendipity.

Thursday night, I was sitting in my living room watching Grey’s Anatomy like I have for the past ten years, but for some reason this episode was slightly different.  Known for using “indie” music to soundtrack their episodes, I have grown accustomed to letting the music go in one ear and out the other acting like background noise, but on this particular episode (“Do You Believe In Magic?”) there was a song that made me sit up and take notice.  This gorgeous piano-driven ballad with this lovely, fragile voice hit me like a ton of bricks, so like the music blogger that I am, I had to know who this beautiful voice and song belonged to. I googled the lyrics I could remember, but to no avail causing me to go to bed completely unsatisfied and slightly mad.

Fast forward to the next morning. I’m sitting in my office and I get a twitter alert from everyone’s favorite blog, Slowcoustic, announcing that he posted a little blurb on Jeremy Squires’ cover of Jill Andrews’ new song “Rust or Gold.” Well, I thought I should read it and share since Jeremy has quickly become a favorite of mine, so I click on the link. Lo and behold, at the end of his little write-up, Slowcoustic says that the original version was just featured on Grey’s the previous night. So, not only do I have a favorite tune, I have a favorite tune sung by two very different artists. Both piano-driven and both delicate and wistful, but Jeremy’s lo-fi rendition with weeping dobro is more vulnerable and intimate. Knowing a little about Jeremy and his music, I know that his honest take on “Rust or Gold” is the natural product of playing all of the instruments making the song more candid and sincere, thus giving it another level of emotion.

Also, before I forget, Jeremy released a new original single last month. A fantastically forlorn and sensitive song, “Ghostlike” is a beautiful example of what is to come from this thoughtful and talented singer-songwriter. His new album, When Will You Go, is currently in the works and expected to be released later this year, so keep an ear to the ground and your eyes on the computer screen for more on Jeremy Squires.

P.S.: If you like what you hear, please be sure to check out all of Jeremy’s albums. They’re well worth it. I guarantee you’ll become a fan.

Jeremy Squires: Website; Facebook; Twitter; Bandcamp

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Alex Culbreth and the Dead Country Stars – Heart In A Mason Jar

It has been a while since I’ve written anything and I’ve been promising this fella I would for months, so here it is…Finally!

I’ve been a fan of Alex Culbreth since his days fronting the Virginia trio, The Parlor Soldiers. Now with The Dead Country Stars, Alex is rockin’ the full-band with a new roots and Americana sound on their debut album Heart in a Mason Jar. Released last year, Heart in a Mason Jar is a confident and solid thirteen song collection showcasing Alex’s distinctive voice and strong songwriting abilities. Kicking the album off is the title track, “Heart in a Mason Jar.” It’s an undiluted and bold song about a toxic relationship and a great introduction to the band and their dynamic sound. The second track, “Drinkin’ Bout You” is a well-written yet typical country tune with a sense of humor, while Culbreth knowledgeably and skillfully tells the story of an aspiring country singer in the personal “I’m Going To Nashville.” And, starting any party is the fun and catchy beat of “Mercy Me” followed by the heartbreaking ballad “Daisy.” An unusal tale of friendship between a patient at the Brooklyn Psychiatric Ward and his imaginary friend, “Daisy” uniquely and lovingly deals with the struggles of mental illness. Then, Culbreth’s songwriting talents shine in the hoedown-turned-protest song “Let’s Send the Politicians Off To War.” Somehow Culbreth is able to make a potentially cheesy song into something that just works.

Heart in a Mason jar is one helluva a coming out party for Alex Culbreth and The Dead Country Stars. It’s a magnetic, energetic, and impressive album that catapults Culbreth into something bigger and bolder leaving anything he did with The Parlor Soliders feeling like a distant memory.

Stream & Buy Heart in a Mason Jar
Alex Culbreth and the Dead Country Stars: Facebook

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Wooden Wand – Blood Oaths of the New Blues

For reasons I can’t quite understand, a feeling of overwhelming intimidation washes over my body and mind anytime and everytime I think about writing a review for Wooden Wand’s new album, Blood Oaths of the New Blues. I can sit here and try to hash out all of the reasons, but the main one is, Wooden Wand, aka James Jackson Toth, is a damn good songwriter and musician. Yeah, sure he’s a nice guy, but nice guys can be intimidating when they’re this talented. And, like a true artist, it’s artistic expression and music that flows through Wooden Wand’s body like blood, so it’s this same lifesource he shares like a blood oath to whoever is listening.

Described as “the Sunday morning ‘wake and bake’ album” on Fire Records‘ website, Blood Oaths is everything you would expect from an album with such a description — heady, smokey, weary, warm and soothing. Opening with “No Bed For Beatle Wand/Day This Long,” a lengthy and meandering song that builds anticipation for the tracks that follow. The alt-country ballad “Supermoon” has a textured soundscape that hums, writhes, and ripples around heartbreaking lyrics and the weariness in Wooden Wand’s voice. While the tone changes to ominous in “Southern Colorado Song” with its arrangement that wonderfully captures the sound of the inevitable in a nowhere-left-to-run situation. It tells the true story of the Dougherty Gang, a group of siblings who went on a multi-state crime spree that started in Florida which included a bank robbery in Georgia and ended with a police shootout in Colorado. Wooden Wand musically summons the feelings of fear, panic, and a nothing-left-to-lose mindset that makes “Southern Colorado Song” a genius piece of storytelling and an album highlight.

Blood Oaths for the New Blues is and will be one of the masterpieces of 2013. It’s a Wooden Wand benchmark, but a benchmark that will most likely be surpassed by his next album. A terrifically prolific songwriter, I have no doubt that Wooden Wand will continue to amaze and entrance listeners with genre-bending music. And, as we all know, “prolific” doesn’t work for everyone (especially when it pertains to songwriting), but since Wooden Wand is insanely brilliant it works for him. It’s this brilliance that makes me as a listener feel like Wooden Wand is now my blood brother sharing a piece of himself in every song on this album and every album that came before with the personal and eternal promise of good music. And, I think it’s safe to say that this blood oath will not be broken.

Buy Blood Oaths of the New Blues
Wooden Wand: Website; Facebook; Twitter; Fire Records

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Sam Gleaves – A Little While in the Wilderness

Photograph by Susi Lawson

It’s now time for me to settle in for the night and get comfortable, so I thought I would play something a little more traditional. On nights like this, the music of the Appalachian mountains brings me comfort and blankets my soul like my favorite tattered quilt, and that is exactly what Sam Gleaves’ does on his new album A Little While in the Wilderness.

Hailing from Wytheville, Virginia, Sam Gleaves is a young man with an old soul and an expert musician. His second release, A Little While in the Wilderness, is a shining example of traditional Appalachian music. Gleaves’ supernatural ability to musically timewarp bringing this bygone music into the present with a youthful nod is astonishing. His understanding of the music comes through easily and echoes the past generations showing a talent well beyond his tender age. His ballads and gospel songs beautifully celebrate the rich culture, traditions, and history of this particular region of the Appalachians making A Little While in the Wilderness a glorious tribute to these ancient mountains and its people.

Buy A Little While in the Wilderness
Sam Gleaves: Website; Facebook

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Larcenist – Eager City, Patient Country

Courtesy of David Wright Photography.

Boston-based “doom” folkies, Larcenist’s new album, Eager City, Patient Country, plays like an American indie-folk-rock opera bringing together the stories of everday people in the ever-changing American towns both small and large. The main theme of soul-searching and trying to reconcile with the past to become more satisfied with the present while using it to build a stronger and more independent future is a universal struggle, but Larcenist uses imagery and instrumentation to create something uniquely American. And, it sounds as if the group has been doing some soul-searching of their own since their debut EP, We Become The Hunted, making Eager City, Patient Country a triumphant example of a band coming into their own as songwriters and musicians.

From the outset of this opera, Larcenist uses point-on harmonies to suggest the unified struggle and music that is just as epic as the journey they sing about. Beginning with where it starts for all of us — our hometowns — in “Born & Raised.” Whether we’re still living and loathing in our hometowns or running away from them, they’ll always be a part of who we are in a very visceral way. Then, moving into the opening line of the next song, “American Saint/ no he ain’t/ he can’t leave his shadows behind,” we’re introduced to the antihero, “American Saint,” who is trying to find both acceptance and self-acceptance to move on. The beautiful, lonely violin in “American Saint” perfectly sets the tone for the character in the song. Next is the foot-stomping “Old Iron Man” that is one of the rarer moments on the album — light and carefree. The unique imagery, the unified voices, and the violin solo makes “Faithful” my favorite song and acts as the climax of this operatic journey.

Ending with a series of different styles and moods — the mournful “Starless,” the rockin’ “Pain,” and the restrained and soulful “Dig Me Up” — they all address the subject of relationship. Closing the opera without truly ending it is “Nebraska.” Like the open, flat lands of Nebraska, there is no end on the horizon for this sojourn of self-exploration, but there is one conclusion — you can’t change your past. Your past is what shapes you and your future.

So, with all that said, Eager City, Patient Country is the human experience and journey of self set to terrifically emotional music that equals the scope of its subject.

Stream & Buy Eager City, Patient Country
Larcenist: Website; Facebook; Twitter; Youtube

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Mike Tod – The California Recordings

I told myself that I would “fast-track” a review for Mike Tod’s new album The California Recordings, but, then, I thought that I wanted to give it a thoughtful and worthy write-up, which obviously isn’t happening. I can try my damnedest to write something thoughtful, but why give too much thought to an album this excellent? What is there to think about? The California Recordings speaks for itself. It really is a great piece of folk music that showcases the songwriting and spirit of the true troubadour within Mike Tod. Written during his trek through the rugged and forested lands of Northern California, this album was recorded live on tape on a single afternoon capturing the essence of his free-spirited folk and travels. And, as y’all already know, I’m a bit partial to the Appalachian folk music of my home, but Tod’s woodsy folk brings about a new appreciation for the rustic music of the Pacific Northwest. His ability to bring to life the romanticism of traveling on the road feeds the desire of my heart as a wannabe rambling woman and makes me want to pack up and head to the Sierra Nevada and the redwooded wilderness of Northern California.

Stream & Buy The California Recordings
Mike Tod: Website; Twitter; Cabin Songs
Cabin Songs: Website; Facebook; Twitter

You’ll Have To Excuse Me from Dylan Rhys Howard on Vimeo

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Pickering Pick – (Tropic)

Prolific songwriter Pickering Pick has just released a new album and follow-up to last year’s Prayer Flag titled (Tropic). And, with an Audubon-influenced insect lithograph reminiscent of those large, antique nature books used to showcase a species’ raw perfection, (Tropic) is a perfect example of folk music. An Englishman turned Californian, Pickering Pick’s music is everything you would expect from a songwriter who has made this kind of transition — warm, serene, poetic, and organic. Like his previous albums, listening to (Tropic) is a spiritual experience. It’s not spiritual in a religious sense, but it does affect and stir the spirit. His gentle performance and restraint allows you to meditate and focus on what is important — the eloquent lyrics, exquisite fingerpicking, and beautiful vocals — while becoming one with the songs. Pickering Pick is a rare talent who has the ability to create gorgeous, minimal music that makes you long for his longings and dream his dreams completely absorbing you into his words and world.

Stream & Buy (Tropic)
Pickering Pick: Bandcamp; Facebook; Twitter; Yer Bird

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Jonathan Warren & The Billy Goats

The dry air and high altitudes of Colorado must be good for the new breed of young bluegrass bands.  In the same company as other mountain state champs, The Lumineers and The Hackensaw Boys, Jonathan Warren & The Billy Goats play a catchy, high energy version of bluegrass.  Their new song, “GreyHound,” has that cold and lonely feel that brings to mind the minor key winter classics “Hazy Shade of Winter”and “California Dreaming.”  They’re a string band, yeah, and they have some of that old timey vaudeville thing going on but they mix it with some great pop sensibilities and end up with a unique sound.  I was also tempted to say that Jonathan Warren & The Billy Goats have totally skirted any jamgrass tendencies but when I heard the wah-wah pedal on the violin at about 3:15 into the song, I realized that must have been wishful (and  admittedly, biased) thinking.  Regardless, it’s a great song that makes me anxious to hear more.

Word has it they’ll be heading in to the studio in February and will have a new album out sometime this spring.  In the meantime, you can check them out on tour (head to their website for details).

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Balto – Monuments EP

Last fall I received an email from various members of the indie-folk group Balto announcing their newest EP, Monuments. The follow-up to their hugely popular album October’s Road, Mounments is a huge step forward for a band that has quickly established a reputation for great songwriting, warm harmonies, and catchy sing-a-longs. Now expanding their sound with a full-band, Balto has created something exciting, powerful, sprawling, and soaring with their lively combination of mandolins, banjos, guitars, pianos, and drums. Monuments is a progressive collection of songs in what I’m sure will be a great series of future albums that will stand as a testament to Balto’s evolution and growth as well as evidence of their brilliant potential.

Stream & Download Monuments
Balto: Website; Facebook; Twitter

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The Marshall Pass – Phantom Train EP

Marshall Pass is a mountain pass in the Sangre de Cristo Range in Colorado. It crosses the Continental Divide as part of the Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad’s transcontinental route from Denver to Salt Lake City. Completed in 1881, the railroad line saw the daily Shavano passenger train until its closure in 1955. Sounds innocent enough, right? Wrong. Lurking on these tracks is the sinister legend of the phantom train that loomed over the Pass until its last day.

Train engineer, Nelson Edwards, who was operating a passenger train in the early 1880s thought that on this particular night the night appeared to be blacker and the air felt colder. Feeling anxious Edwards continued despite hearing an earlier report of a defective rail and hazardous bridge. Edwards heard a train whistle echoing among the rocks, snow, and ice, and applied the brakes. Annoyed, the conductor asked Edwards, “Why?” Edwards then sanded the tracks and continued on his way.

Still hearing the whistle of what he thought was a wild train, Edwards opened the throttle to climb the mountain to avoid a collision. He told the conductor to warn the passengers then chanced crossing the defective rail. Before crossing the pass, Edwards looked back at the wild train and saw an engineer leaning out of the engine’s window with an evil grin upon his face. As Edwards approached the dangerous bridge, he crossed without trouble while the other train continued racing toward him. He passed through switch nineteen without a problem, and looked back again at the coming train. At that moment, he saw the train topple down the canyon. He heard no cries from passengers so he assumed there weren’t any.

When Edwards pulled into town he saw this haunting and misspelled message written in the frost of his cab window: “A freight train was reck as yu saw. Not that yu will never make another run. The engine was not under control and four sexshun men wor killed. If yu ever run on this road again yu will be recked.” Needless to say, Edwards resigned from the Denver & Rio Grande that morning, thus creating the legend and myth of the phantom train.

With their debut EP, Phantom Train, The Marshall Pass is creating a legend of their own. A duo from Worcester, Massachusetts, consisting of multi-instrumentalist Duncan Arsenault and singer Craig Rawdings this seven-song collection started as Arsenault’s personal project after the passing of his friend and singer/guitarist, Scott Ricciulti. Deeply effected by Ricciulti’s death, Arsenault gave the tracks to friend Craig Rawding who wrote the lyrics which led to the creation of Phantom Train.

Phantom Train is a wonderfully textured soundscape that brings to life the landscape and environment of the west and Marshall Pass. It echoes, whistles, and glides like a ghostly train through the spacious and pristine sound of rugged folk. Rawding’s edgy vocals and Arsenault’s crisp instrumentation also help to mirror the pass for which they take their name; taking the listener on a journey through the peaks and valleys, or in this case, canyons of life, and climbing out of the depths of despair without ever hitting a musical low.

Stream & Buy Phantom Train
The Marshall Pass: Website; Facebook; Twitter

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