DOWNLOAD: A.A. Bondy - Surfer King
For a song with the title "Surfer King," A.A. Bondy's new single seems more suited to the mountains or an isolated cabin. Opening with Christmas eve bells and quickly taking a smoky, assured roots rock atmosphere with warm trails of organ, full-bodied guitars and beautiful slide leads, Bondy shows he's still an important voice in the national twang-folk conversation. With lyrics namechecking American skin, roses and midnight haze, it's like he was hugging a campfire while writing this one. Find this and more on Believers, which is out now on Fat Possum.
DOWNLOAD: Mia Riddle - City Song
(Photo: Eric Luc)
The Brooklyn-based songstress Mia Riddle crafts songs that are "equal parts desert expanse and outer-borough street lamp spirit." In other words, her easy folky cadence is inspired from her childhood in the sunny, salty West Coast and its natural habitats as well as from NYC's creative niches and weathered lonesome. The City Song rests heartily her sweet-voiced lyrics over cymbal-heavy percussion and alt-country guitar strums.
Sounds Like: Shilpa Ray and her Happy Hookers, Jolie Holland, Joan Baez, Jaymay
STREAM: The Acorn - Antenna
If you haven't tried it already, we grandly prescribe to you The Acorn's brand of gritty indie rock; soaked in cedar, swaddled in leaves, it's rustic americana, like you wish momma woulda made it. Their newest CD Glory Hope Mountain ranges from whispered lullabies to finger-plucking blues and delectable lyrics ('the precious noise of wounded boys in heat'). Relish the three tracks below.
For those of you in NY, The Acorn are playing tonight with other buddies of ours, The War On Drugs, at Pianos..and then tomorrow at Merc Lounge.
Sounds Like: Blitzen Trapper, Band of Horses.
DOWNLOAD: These United States- First Sight
These United States are trying to 'reinvent folk' (*according to NPR*) and perhaps highlight DC really is south of the mason dixon line.... But while the other tracks stick reveal more southern-tinged folk rock, the track 'First Sight' weighs heavy in on the pop scale. Begining with the same sort of ambient synth progression ala Postal Service, it then launches into a catchy reverie about love. Lead singer, Jesse Elliot reminiscences about being "deafened by trust" and "the logistics of lust."
Check em out yourself if you're in NY, tonight at the Cake Shop and tomorrow at Brooklyn's Union Hall w/ David Dondero
EXCLUSIVE STREAM: Alberta Cross - Lucy Rider (Acoustic)
Leave it to Europeans to teach us just how gripping and transcendent Americana rock can be. The London-based Alberta Cross, made up of Swedish Petter Ericson Stakee and Terry Wolfers, craft folk rock songs- golden and sun-lit, lazy and aching. In "Lucy Rider," when singer Stakee's voice wails "Why do she always lose what she loves?," his voice has the same emotional gravitas as Kurt Cobain during his acoustic solos- pained and passionate. But this ain't grunge rock. These are the type of ballads birthed by weathered cowboys over an oak-burning fire, embraced by The Allman Brothers and The Band.....and now reinvigorated by Alberta Cross.
Stream: Alberta Cross- Lucy Rider
DOWNLOAD: Old Man River- L.A.
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Old Man River’s “L.A.” is giddy, happy-go-lucky pop rock; think Andrew Bird singing while drinking pina coladas the beach. Meanwhile, the jam “Sunshine” has an intensely psychedelic feel-reminiscent of “Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In” by The 5th Dimension- accentuated with Indian instruments. The young man behind Old Man River, Sydney-based Ohad Rein credits his sonic inspiration from his world-wide travels- through India, the Middle East, NY and Australia.
New Yorkers can check him out tonight at Lit and tomorrow night at the Bar on A.
