Caroline Rose may be a fairly newcomer on the folk/Americana scene, but the early critical acclaim she’s received from outlets like NPR and American Songwriter would have you believe otherwise. Her recent offering “l I Will Not Be Afraid” tackles a number of topics, including gun violence on the powerful track “Blood on Your Bootheels.” The latest in a growing trend of politically-aware folk artists, Rose is a sharp-eyed addition to an important musical movement.
Damien Jurado superb album “Brothers and Sisters of the Eternal Son” a bit like a cult. The cover looks a bit like the home of one, too. Even song names sound like cult members: “Silver Timothy”, “Silver Donna”, Silver Malcolm, Silver Katherine and Silver Joy. And maybe that’s a start for describing this, Damien Jurado’s third effort with Richard Swift. It’s lightly tethered to reality, while searching for new opportunities just beyond reality’s realm. “Eternal Son” feels like last year’s “Maraqopa” dialed back a bit. Less assertive instrumentation, for a more tripped out, ethereal folk. Standout track is the lounge cult “Silver Timothy.”
The album “All Kinds of You” could probably convince someone that Ryley Walker’s debut long player is the work of some long-lost UK singer-songwriter from the 1970s — think John Martyn or Bert Jansch. But Walker is actually a 20-something fella from Chicago. Lucky us. The album is a beauty. Far from being a mere pastiche artist, Walker really inhabits these songs and the sound that accompanies them. Here Ryley Walker is performing live in the KEXP studio. Recorded July 22, 2014.
Songs:
The West Wind,
Summer Dress,
Clear The Sky,
Go Your Way My Love,
Jennifer Castle – Pink City: Jennifer Castle crafted one of the more beautiful records of the year. Hailing from Toronto, her voice recalls the energy of Laurel Canyon like some 40-year-old folk record might. But “Pink City” is much more than a yesteryear retread. Gentle rolling guitar, Owen Pallett’s lush string arrangements and Jennifer Castle’s voice – an indefinable thing that is at once fragile, delicate and rugged – are just some of the elements that make up this collection of gorgeous, pastoral folk songs.
Hozier made his major american network this year on the Letterman Show, He performed the title track to his amazing debut EP , The signs were there in how his ‘Take Me To Church’ single broke big online at the tail end of 2013, but nobody could quite grasp how huge Hozier was about to become in the States. Andrew Hozier-Byrne has kept things modest. His mum designs the album art. His songs aren’t massively showy, instead shouting bold truths without being preachy. A self-titled LP made the top five on these shores, but it was in North America where things took charge. Charting at No2 in the American Charts was one thing, but it’s held the #1 spot on the Folk Chart for eight solid weeks, ranking as the biggest Irish breakthrough. Also ‘Take Me To Church’ ended up ranking as the most-streamed single online. Jamie Milton
A new heart breaker in town and his name is Alex Vargas even though he sounds quite American when he’s singing he is in fact originally from Denmark. Some of you may even remember Vargas’ previous Xenomania produced band Vagabond, but let’s not get distracted by the past because his debut EP “Solid Ground“.
Title track “Solid Ground” is the kind of sound you wish Nick Jonas could make, it’s handsome and soulful.
Missing from the EP is Vargas’ best song “Howl” but you can watch a very good acoustic version of it below.
With nine songs in just a little more than half an hour, Haley Bonar‘s the “Last War” merits constant replay: It’s chiming and charming enough to sneak some dynamite lines — “I wish I could date my former self / She’d be a fun girlfriend” — beneath Bonar’s stormy arrangements. The singer-songwriter’s fifth album, “Last War”, is like one of those Russian nesting dolls, as layer upon layer of ingratiating power-pop obscures thorny observations about dreams pursued, deferred and dashed.
Shakey Graves, Rose-Garcia from Austin, Texas, He plays a gnarly composite of blues and folk as a one-man-band of epic sonic proportions. The sound emitted from his hollow body guitar, mildly distorted amp and suitcase drum belie the young singer’s lean frame. He fingerpicks while keeping time with a double-pedal kick drum, hitting a snare fitted into his suitcase drum and a tambourine fashioned to its side. And when he sings, Rose-Garcia unleashes an unearthly howl. Gritty groans and sexy moans carry his stories of both accepting and trying to overcome personal challenges masked with old-timey Western imagery.
On everyone’s list as the one to watch for 2015, very talented singer songwriter, James Bay has his debut album “Chaos and Calm” due in March 2015 preorder and you will receive two tracks instantly when you pre-order the deluxe edition on iTunes, two extra track to download “Hold Back The River” and “If You Ever Want To Be In Love”.
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