I want to be a bitch, I want to live with all my heart -- Little Brave

You can listen to Little Brave here

Remember when "Girl Power" was all the rage, but all we got was bubble-gum pop stars and the Spice Girls? Thankfully, our patience for a good girl fronted band has paid off, our reward: Little Brave. Mix one part Meredeth Brooks, one part Kate Nash and one part A Fine Frenzy with a dash of bitter bitchiness thrown in, and you get Stephanie Briggs, AKA Little Brave.

I was sent Little Brave's music by Timothy Slusher (@cosmicclimb), a music promoter, with whom I became acquainted through Twitter, but had also seen her name "tweeted" a few times by Chris Fullerton (@ElectricPencils), who had also recommended Alabama Shakes, so I knew Little Brave was well worth a listen. Good gourd was I right. I am really liking her music. I'm not good with placing all this new music I'm hearing into genres, but I'm gonna just call Little Brave indie rock. Stephanie Briggs released two albums under her own name, Birds Barely Know Us and Spark and one album and one EP under the moniker Little Brave, Wound & Will and Wild (due out August 2012.) I was lucky enough to be sent all of this material. 

Singer/songwriter Stephanie Briggs fronts the band, backed by K Phillips, Brian Singhas and Michael Christmas. Drums, guitars, bass, keys, banjo, accordion and ukulele all have a place in this band, and we all know how much I love banjos (and ukuleles too!)  I really like her songwriting. Her songs are blunt, honest, full of feeling; some read like a soliloquy of the soul, others so direct, or metaphorically direct, in their meaning that its impossible to not feel exactly what she's feeling. Her vocals are smooth, and yet have some punch to them, her use of staccato and enunciation of select words/verses is wonderful, brings out the feeling of the songs. 

I really like every song on every album, but here are some highlights:



Spark: A few of my favorites from Spark are Sure Thing, with it's catchy, bouncy melodies, Word for Word, another happy, melodic song, Photo Chemicals with it's waltzy tempo, breathy vocals and perfect guitars. 

Birds Barely Know Us: Good Guess is a highlight of this album, it's a good girl-rock song. Great electric guitars. Mister is another great track. It's back and forth from soft to hard vocals is awesome, and the lyrics are fantastic. Looks Like my Motivation is a ballad, backed with a great string arrangement, great lyrics and vocals.

Wound & Will: It was hard to narrow it down to a few favorites on this album, I love it all, but if I had to narrow it down Cut & Paste, Fool, Mercy, It's Coming Out Tonight and Blame would make the short list. It's Coming Out Tonight has a slight country ballad feel to it, I really like it. I love the vocals and lyrics of Fool. Fool is probably my favorite on the album, and I think my favorite Little Brave song.

Little Brave's new EP, Wild: All four songs are immaculately constructed. They feel a little more mature, more evolved than the previous three records, not that the others aren't great, they are, but this one feels different. Cigarette VS Guitar has a grab-you-in guitar opening, and the lyrics of this song are brilliant, they hit me in just the right way, stay with me all day. A bass line opens Say So, then Briggs vocals come in, and a little later, the rest of the band; another great song lyrically. I Know the World had echo-y vocals, but in a good way, I really like the keys in this song, they almost have a circus-organ sound to them. Under Wings closes the EP, and it's another winning track. This EP is an all around winner. If I had a top hat rating system, it'd get 4/4 TopHats.

Little Brave in an artist that we all should keep an eye on, I see big things ahead. You can buy her albums here (you can pre-order Wild) or Wound & Will can be found on iTunes or here: http://littlebrave.bandcamp.com/. I think it's pretty safe to say that I am Spokane's biggest Little Brave fan, maybe even Washington State's biggest Little Brave fan (though I think the same can be said about Filligar, Runaway Dorothy, Brown Bird, Foreign Fields, and (though maybe only Spokane for) Tender Mercies)

Bless my heart, Bless my SOUL - Alabama Shakes

Stream the album here

A couple months ago, I was sitting in the living room of my mom's house, talking about music with my sister and her husband. From the kitchen we could hear Alabama Shakes playing on my iPod. I was saying how much I liked them, and how they had that classic, old Muscle Shoals rhythm and blues sound, to which my brother-in-law replied, "I thought they were old." Nay, Denny, they are not. They are new and awesome and everyone should listen to them.

Alabama Shakes was recommended by a Twitter acquaintance, Chris Fullerton (@ElectricPencils) in early April. Their debut album, Boys & Girls, which was to be released on April 9, 2012, was streaming on NPR. He urged everyone to listen to them, so I did. And I loved it. If you close your eyes and listen to this record, you'll be transported back to summer, late 1960s, somewhere in the South, sitting on a porch swing, sipping sweet tea, with your little record player blasting that classic R&B sound. But no, open your eyes and you're back in 2012. I really love the sound of this band. I can't quite figure out who exactly they remind me of, what vocalist or what band, but still, I love it. Everyone with whom I have shared this record loves it as well. 

Alabama Shakes formed in 2009 in Athens, Alabama, with members Brittany Howard (vocals, guitar,) Heath Fogg (guitars,) Zac Cockrell (bass,) Steve Johnson (drums) and Ben Tanner (keys.) Howard's vocals are powerful (the girl has pipes) and have been compared to the likes of Janis Joplin. They have gotten a lot of great press, expect these guys to be huge. MTV named them on their "Artists to Watch in 2012" and have played at music festivals such as South By SouthWest, Sasquatch and Bonaroo, and are in the line-up for Lollapalooza. They have also appeared on Conan and Late Night with David Letterman, and will be on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon next week.

Boys & Girls is twelve tracks of pure awesome. The soulful Hold On opens the record. The drum line grabs you from the get go, then the guitars keep you in the song. Next is I Found You, this song too has that classic late 1960s soul feel, the backing vocals totally bring it out. The third song on the record is my favorite: Hang Loose. Hang Loose has a slightly more rock and roll feel; its just a super fun song. The record rolls on with superb radness in every song: Rise to the Sun, You Ain't Alone, Goin' to the Party, Heartbreaker (this song is KILLER. Full of so much soul, angst and awesome) Boys & Girls, Be Mine, I Ain't the Same, On Your Way and wraps with Heavy Chevy, a super up-beat, rockin' track, which reminds me more of early 1960s rock n roll, or even late 1950s. The guitar is insanely brilliant, almost Chuck Berry-esque, the piano reminiscent of Jerry Lee Lewis. I love it long time.

I don't think I can say enough about how awesome this band is, how awesome this record is. Sometimes I can't come up with the words I want. I listen to it all the time. It's perfect for these sunny, summer afternoons that we've all got coming up. It's a perfect soundtrack for that BBQ/road trip/life event you've got this/next/every weekend. Ok, now go buy this record. iTunes, Amazon, whatever. Now.

20+ years in the making, but well worth the wait - Tender Mercies

San Francisco in the early 1990s was a happenin' place to be. Lots of great bands came out of that city/time. If you happened upon the Hotel Utah, you may have run into an early incarnation of Tender Mercies. Dan Vickrey, Patrick Winningham, Kurt Stevenson and Charlie Gillingham were the band. They played around San Francisco under changing names and drummers, until Charlie left to focus on working with another up-and-coming San Francisco based band, Counting Crows. Through Charlie's recommendation, and his awesome guitar skills, in 1993 Dan Vickrey would too join that little band, who's debut album had just been released. If you know your '90s music history, that little band would blow up to be a major success, and Tender Mercies as a band was put on the back burner. A few of their songs would be added to the set lists of early Counting Crows shows, and some still are to this day.


Fast forward to October 2011. Counting Crows had been taking more time off, which gave Patrick Winningham, Kurt Stevenson, Dan Vickrey and new drummer Jim Bogios time to get together, play music, and eventually record said music. The result: Tender Mercies' debut album is finally released. I don't know exactly which genre this record fits into: country, alternative country, Americana, folk, indie rock, take your pick. All I know is that it's a damn good album. 

The album opens with a Vickrey penned track, Safe and Sound. I love this song, with lyrics like this, how can you not? -- 
You're speaking softly into my broken ears / your voice assures me there's nothing here to fear / and on a night like this I should know / the stars are crystal clear the moons a side show / looking in to the sky / well you can't see / this carnival of emotion inside of me / I'm spinning round upon the ferris wheel / there's no words to explain this feeling I feel / all this time I know / that I must be the luckiest man in the world / the wheel turns upside down / my feet have touched the ground / and I'm stranded in an open field / and as I call your name I hear my voice just the same / echoing like someone's lost beyond the hills / suddenly I see the earth is at my feet and I've landed above you and it's clear / that you are safe and sound on a dry and distant ground / whispering words that I will never hear / and all this time I know / that I must be the luckiest man in world 

Its nice to hear Dan singing lead, as he usually only does backing vocals on Counting Crows songs (I loved when Adam Duritz made him sing at the Counting Crows show in Seattle, he went with the Beach Boys' Wouldn't it Be Nice.) He has a great country twang to his voice. Safe and Sound is a perfect song, the lyrics sweet and beautiful, the acoustic guitar flawless. My other favorite Vickrey song on the album is Heaven Knows. One of my favorite lines from the song, and really from any song: You don't know how beautiful you are / as pretty as the sky is to the stars. Love it. The other Dan songs, I love them all, on this album are Angeline and Perfect Hour. Both are lyrical masterpieces. Dan Vickrey writes some good stuff. 

Counting Crows fans will recognize the tracks Four White Stallions and Mercy, as they covered them on their new album Underwater Sunshine (Or What We Did on Our Summer Vacation). Though these original versions are slightly different, a bit more country, less rock and roll. I love Four White Stallions, it's a great song. Thank you Patrick Winningham for writing this song. Patrick also gets to take lead vocals on these songs, as well as on Scarecrow, Ball & Chain, Riding Blind, Almighty Trial and yet another song that Counting Crows fans may recognize, and another one of my favorites, Wiseblood. 

I don't know what it is about this song, but it really resonates with me. Maybe it's the lyrics, maybe it's the harmonies, maybe it's the electric guitar. I don't know, but I loves it. This video is from South By Southwest 2012, the band is joined by Charlie Gillingham, doing his best "I'll just sit here and look cool" act (for other songs in this set Charlie played the accordion)

How many more times can I say that I love this band, and this record. Not just because of the Counting Crows connection, I mean sure, that helps, but they really are really good. The songs are fantastic in every aspect; lyrics, guitars, drums, lead vocals, backing vocals, everything. Like I always do, I will recommend picking up Tender Mercies' album. If you're a country fan, you'll like it. If you're a rock n roll fan, you'll like it. If you're a Counting Crows fan you'll like it. If you have functioning ears, you'll like it. You can get it from iTunes or Amazon. Don't bother previewing it, just buy it. 

(oh, and go "like" them on Facebook too. You're already on Facebook all the time, may as well show support for these guys. Anyway, after listening to the record, you will like them.  http://www.facebook.com/tendermerciesmusic)

Stare into the dark long enough, something's bound to shine - Kasey Anderson & The Honkies

For a listen, go here, or look them up on iTunes or Spotify

This is the only picture I have of them from that show,
sorry it's only Kasey's butt.

I was first introduced to Kasey Anderson & The Honkies last September when they opened for Counting Crows at the Puyallup Fair. They are one of two of these "new" bands, that I love, whom I have actually seen live (and will see again in August.) We were quite impressed with him/them. I had intended on getting their records, but for whatever reason, I didn't. Until now, that is. I recently downloaded The Honkies' newest record, Let The Bloody Moon Rise, and also their live record Live at the Triple Door (currently, only the latter is available on their website.) Both of these records are quite good. Sometime in the not too distant future I hope to acquire Kasey Anderson's previous albums Heart of a Dog, Nowhere Nights and The Reckoning, coz after listening to them on Spotify, I very much enjoy them as well. (UPDATE: I got them. I love them. That is all)

Kasey Anderson grew up in the Portland, Oregon area, spent eight years in Bellingham, Washington, some of that time was spent studying English at Western Washington University, and now spends his time (while not touring) around Seattle and Portland. Kasey Anderson's sound has been likened to that of Steve Earle, Ryan Adams, Bruce Springsteen (and bear with me here, I, in some songs, some lines, some bits of music, hear just a little of Bryan Adams, but that's just the leftover Canadian in me.) He's got a slightly gravely voice, and the band, The Honkies, have blues-country-rock sound that is uniquely rad. (The Honkies are: Andrew McKeag on guitar/vocals (check out his track Already Gone on Let the Bloody Moon Rise, it's pretty darn good,) Will Moore on bass/vocals, Mike Musburger on drums and Ty Bailie on keys.)

Kasey Anderson is a brilliant songwriter, he has been called “A literate workingman’s poet.” (Paste Magazine) to which I fully agree. His songs are honest, not overly wordy or overly romanticized like so much music is these days. He'll tell you straight up what's on his mind, the songs reflect that. Sure, he's got some ballad-y songs, but they are still perfectly written. Anderson has caught the attention of some pretty notable folks. Adam Duritz of Counting Crows, for example. Kasey Anderson & The Honkies played with them last fall, and also were part of the Outlaw Roadshow at South By Southwest this year, and will be touring again with Counting Crows on the traveling Outlaw Roadshow's second leg (which I am so excited to be seeing in Sandpoint, Idaho August 10th) But really, coolest of all, is that Counting Crows covered Kasey Anderson's song Like Teenage Gravity for their new album Underwater Sunshine (or What we Did on our Summer Vacation). This song is one of my favorites, both Kasey Anderson's original, which can be found both on Nowhere Nights and Let the Bloody Moon Rise (I like the Let The Bloody Moon Rise version better,) and Counting Crows' cover. Really, what better honor is there than to have Counting Crows cover one of your songs? 

Let The Bloody Moon Rise, Kasey Anderson & The Honkies' new album is set to be released sometime near the end of June (I think, I couldn't find an official release date, but my copy will be shipped around June 19, according to the email I got after I ordered the LP **Release delayed until November 2012, with limited quantities available of physical album, so get on it.) As soon as it becomes available, you should get it. I am loving this record. It's got some great stuff on it. Some highlights of the record, though all the songs are great, are the opening track Some Depression, a twangy, alt-country-esque song. The lyrics are great, one of my favorite verses (mainly coz it mocks those who drive a Prius) --
You got Tweedy and Farrar on your vanity plates / Driving your Prius down the lost highway / Down to California, down to Joshua Tree / To feel Gram’s ghost on the desert breeze / Back to Room 8, smoke a little weed / Pretty good story, but it don’t impress me.


Next we get Down, Lucine, a raucous, blues-rock tune, which reminds me of something, I just can't pin-point what (I could say George Thorogood, but I won't coz I don't like him, he's creepy,) but I love it nonetheless. A cover of Delbert McClinton's Two More Bottles of Wine is another rocking, country-rock song. Totally fun to listen to, gets you moving, rockin', puts a smile on your face. The piano in this song is astounding, and the guitars electrifying. Two More Bottles of Wine runs into Abaddon Blues, which hence the name, is a blues-rock song. This song gives us the album's title, Let The Bloody Moon Rise, this song exemplifies blues rock at it's best. Don't Look Back has got to be my favorite track. I love the lyrics, the guitars are amazing, the song has that epic rock 'n' roll song feel to it, it almost reminds me of something by Johnny Cougar Mellencamp (if only I liked Johnny Cougar Mellencamp, but that's irrelevant here.) There is a different, mellower version of Don't Look Back on the album The Reckoning, which I also love. It's one of those songs what I just connected with instantly. A new, uptempo, more country-esque version of Like Teenage Gravity is presented on this album. I really love this song too. All versions. Kasey Anderson's and Counting Crows'. It's on my list of all time favorite songs. I'm a lyrics girl, and the lyrics of this song just get to me. As much as I want to post them all here, I won't, but you can read them for yourself here, or watch that video up there. Just do something to get this song in your brain. Another favorite, the acoustic version of Sirens & Thunder is on Live at the Triple Door, another very, very good song.

Not only is Kasey Anderson a helluva songwriter, but the dude is funny. Follow him on Twitter. If not because you're a fan of his music, but purely for the entertainment. He "tweets" some of the funniest stuff I've ever read; things that most of us wish we had thought of, or that we had but wish we could say out loud. Sarcasm, satire and pure smart-assery. I feel that my sense of humor would click with his. I'd love to hang out with him, people watch with him, mock people at Starbucks with him. Open invitation for Kasey Anderson: If you're ever passing through Spokane, lets hang out, grab dinner or coffee or something, I'll interview you for the blog, talk about random things.

So there you have Kasey Anderson & The Honkies. Again I'll say, like I always do, go buy his/their records, see them on leg 2 of the Outlaw Roadshow, or any of their other shows (the dates you can find right here)

Album review - Underwater Sunshine (Or What We Did on Our Summer Vacation) - Counting Crows

Hey! Listen! Stream while you read!

So, I don't claim to be a professional music writer, or a professional music anything, or even a writer for that matter. I'm simply a fan who likes to talk/write about the music I love. This is my first album review, as opposed to a review of a band and their album. I chose this record because a) it's awesome, and 2) we all know how much I love Counting Crows (if you are unaware of this fact, which I'd be surprised if you were, please read this post.)

Underwater Sunshine (Or What We Did On Our Summer Vacation) is Counting Crows' 6th studio album. It is also their first independent release, having split with Geffen in 2009. The album contains songs which were not penned by lead singer Adam Duritz, but covers of songs which Duritz and the band hand picked, songs by artists who have influenced them (Big Star, Gram Parsons, Bob Dylan), artists who are up-and-coming and deserve the exposure (The Romany Rye, Dawes, Kasey Anderson.) Some of these songs you may know, most you will not. But that doesn't mean they aren't worth listening to. It's a Counting Crows record, so you know it's going to be good.

When I first heard that Counting Crows were making a new record, I was very excited. When I heard it was a covers album, the excitement grew. I read some thoughts on the record, around various places of the interwebs, before it even came out, which were not keen to the idea of an all covers Counting Crows album, thoughts that it wouldn't be as good as prior albums because the songs weren't written by Adam Duritz, or that cover albums had been done before, so why should this one be given attention. My expectations were the complete opposite. Counting Crows are known for doing covers in their live shows, and having experienced this first hand, and knowing what they are capable of, I was very excited to hear what they had in store.

The record's official release date was April 10, 2012, but the album was available streaming online a few weeks before that. Of course I had the link bookmarked, and listened to it often, and of course pestered my friends/family to listen to it too by posting the link on Facebook pretty much every day or so. The album is just that good. For reals. I love nearly every part of it. Even though they are covers, all the songs have that "Counting Crows" vibe. The best part though was that three days after the record dropped, I got to see the band preform several of the songs live at the Showbox Sodo in Seattle (fantastic show, by the way.) It's pretty safe to say that the band is sounding it's best ever. This album proves that. So do their current string of live shows.

So here is my track by track review of the album:

Untitled (Love Song) Original by The Romany Rye
The Romany Rye is a band which Adam Duritz first saw at South By Southwest in 2011. This song was one of the songs they played; he loved it. I too love this song. Its a good choice to open the record. Dan Vickrey and David Immerglück's guitars are fantastic on this track (as always), Charlie Gillingham's piano and organ fit perfectly with the song, and the lyrics, even though they aren't of Adam Duritz's hand, are classic "Counting Crows." Like many, ok all, of the songs on the album, if you didn't know they were covers, you wouldn't know they are covers.

Start Again Original by Teenage Fanclub
I really like this song. I've listened to the original and love it too (and other Teenage Fanclub stuff; they're good.) The harmonies on this song are brilliant. The song begins with the simple strumming of Dave Bryson's 12-string guitar (which later gets even better when he starts pickin' rather than just strummin') Charlie on piano, Millard Powers on bass and Immer on mandolin. Duritz and Dan Vickrey start out the vocals, with Immer joining after the first verse. Their voices together are something special. They fit so well together. (This is one of my favorite songs on the record to sing along to, I like to think my voice adds a nice harmony to the song too. But that's just me)


Hospital Original by Coby Brown
What other song do you know of, that is this good, that references algebra? None. This song was recorded while Adam Duritz was suffering withdrawals from stopping some psychiatric meds (ironic, no?) There are some parts of the song where you can hear the shakiness in his voice, but it just adds to the charm of the song. The bass and acoustic guitar are not played in this song by their normal hosts, Immer took control of the bass line, which is frickin' amazing, and Millard Powers was given the task of acoustic guitar, which he does amazingly well, as Adam Duritz says in the album's liner notes "...Millard took the guitar, walked into Immy's booth and spent the rest of the day just abusing Immy's poor 1963 Goya Classical guitar. He beat the shit out of the poor sad thing. Now it refuses to play anything but whiny ballads (which... we have plenty of')"

Mercy Original by Tender Mercies
This is the first song released as a download from Underwater Sunshine. The song was written by Kurt Stevenson and Patrick Winningham of Tender Mercies, a band who's current line-up includes two members of Counting Crows: Dan Vickrey and Jim Bogios. Though the band has been around since the early days of Counting Crows, their first, self titled album was released October, 2011; this song is on it (along with Four White Stallions, which is coming up later.) Though the arrangement of this version is different than the original, it's still quite true to the original. This song rings like a country gospel song. Dan's guitar solo is great, and Charlie's organ gives it that classic gospel feel. And bonus, there's a banjo in the song (love me some banjo.)

Meet on the Ledge Original by Fairport Convention
Meet on the Ledge is a favorite of both Adam Duritz and David Immerglück. I like it too. I really don't have much to say about this song, other than I dig the vocals, the guitar is amazing, and it makes me want to find this ledge and meet someone there; it sounds like a happenin' place to be.

Like Teenage Gravity Original By Kasey Anderson & The Honkies

I LOVE this song. I LOVE Kasey Anderson & The Honkies. You can find the original on Kasey Anderson & the Honkies' album Nowhere Nights, or their new album Let the Bloody Moon Rise. Jim Bogios' drum line sets the mood of this song, and Dan's guitar brings it out, Charlie's piano completes it. The lyrics of this song are some of my favorites ever. I love the way Adam sings this song. It was one of my favorites that they did when we saw them in Seattle (I especially love when he closes his eyes and puts his hands in his pockets when he sings)

Amie Original by Pure Prairie League
This is, I think anyway, my sister Linda's favorite song on the album. This is one of the few songs I knew before this album came out. It's a fun, classic song. If you have ever listened to a classic rock/oldies radio station, chances are you know this song too. I have a bootleg of Counting Crows doing this song from (I think) the late '90s or early '00s, but I have to say this studio version is way better.The song is done will all acoustic instruments, nary an electric guitar to be seen. We get Immer's mandolin and Charlie's accordion on this song, so double bonus. This song was chosen for the album simply because Adam Duritz loves to sing it. For that I am glad, coz it's a great song.

Coming Around Original by Travis
This is fun song too. The band uses some crazy instruments on it: mellotron, glockenspiel and doorbell(?) according to the liner notes. This song too has that classic Counting Crows feel, I dig it, it's a fun song. I love how Adam Duritz sings it, and the backing vocals fit in perfectly.

Ooh La La Original by The Faces
When I first saw this song on the track list, I didn't know what it was. Once I listened to it, I was like "oh yeah, THAT song, I know that song." The Faces were Rod Stewart's original band, along with Ron Wood (who would later join the Rolling Stones) and Ronnie Lane. Another all acoustic song, on which it seems the boys are having almost way too much fun playing/singing. I love Charlie's piano, and how Dan and Immer's guitars play off each other.

All My Failures Original by Dawes
A classic bluesy, country-esque song. I've read that it's one of Adam Duritz's favorites on the record, but honestly, not one of mine. I can't say why, I don't know why. This song just doesn't ring with me (sorry Adam.) Not saying it's not a good song, it is that, but for whatever reason the song and I just don't click. You should listen it anyway, don't just take my opinion on it, or as Levar Burton would say, "You don't have to take my word for it"

Return of the Grievous Angel Original by Gram Parsons
Ok, this song is my favorite on the record. Its such a fun song! You can tell it's gonna be awesome from the get go, when Jim counts off the song, all the way till Adam's "woo hoo!" at the end. The band seems like they are having so much fun recording this song. I love how Adam "throws" the song to Immer on the mandolin, and then to Dan on the electric guitar. It was really cool to see this song live in Seattle also, it was one of the songs that I was really hoping they'd play off this album. LOVE it.

Four White Stallions Original by Tender Mercies
If you have New Amsterdam: Live at Heineken Music Hall or Tender Mercies' album then you know this song. The song was written by Patrick Winningham and Dan Vickrey, and has been in the Crows' live rotation for a while. It's about time they did a studio version. You can feel the angst in the song with Adam's vocals, and Immer's steel pedal guitar carries that feeling through the song. I love the lyrics of the bridge, and the trippy guitar: Damn these nights of dreamin' / visions soft and sure / now I awake to find there's nothing left of me and her / nothing more than a heart still at war.

Jumpin' Jesus Original by Sordid Humor
Sordid Humor was another band out of San Francisco in the late 80's/early 90s that Adam Duritz was a part of (singing back-up) along with Immer (on bass.) This song is kinda trippy, but rad. It as great guitars and the lyrics are awesome. There is an exit off of I-90 through Washington State for a town called Odessa. Every time I pass it, this song pops into my head. Listen to it and you'll know why.

You Ain't Goin' Nowhere Original by Bob Dylan
This song is a lot of fun too. I read some review somewhere, where the writer said that this song was one of their least favorite, that it felt "forced" Um, did you actually listen to it? I think this song is awesome, and it doesn't seem forced at all. Like so many other songs here, it feels like the band is having FUN. Isn't that what being in a band is really all about? The guitars are fantastic, the piano almost magical, the vocals perfect. I love near the end when Adam gives it a little gospel feel, "one more time!" If you're gonna sing, you might as well sing songs you love.

The Ballad of El Goodo Original by Big Star

The perfect closing song. Big Star is one of Adam Duritz's favorite bands ever. I've listened to some Big Star stuff, and I agree, they're pretty darn good. I really like this song. I love Adam's lead, I love the harmonies, I love the banjo. This is another one that they played in Seattle, and it was great; a good song to help close out the night (it wasn't the last song, that was Holiday in Spain, it was the third to last, Ghost Train was second to last, which I could have done with out, it's my least favorite Crows song) I could listen to The Ballad of El Goodo over and over and never get tired of it. Lovely song, just lovely.

If you get Underwater Sunshine from iTunes, you get two bonus tracks, a cover of Madonna's Borderline, which I think is way better than her version. I have a bootleg of this song from a 2003 show, in which much alcohol was involved in the performance, this one is way better (I also have them doing a cover of Madonna's Crazy For You, which is one of my favorites out of their bootlegs/covers.) This version was recorded live at the Royal Albert Hall. The other bonus track is Adam and Immer (on acoustic guitar) doing Roy Harper's version of Bob Dylan's Girl From the North Country. Another very good song. I love Adam's singing on this song. Maybe some of his best vocal work ever; it's almost haunting, and Immer's acoustic guitar is beautiful. It's worth buying the record from iTunes just for these songs.

So that's my über long review of Underwater Sunshine. Thanks for sticking with me. Now, go buy it!! (And catch the Outlaw Roadshow on tour if you can, I am. Leg 2. Sandpoint, ID. See you there!)

Light a candle, free your soul - Foreign Fields

Here's the link to listen/download: http://foreignfields.bandcamp.com/

You know that scene in Almost Famous, when William Miller inherits his sister's record collection, and she leaves him a note to listen to Tommy with a candle burning, that he'll see his future? Listening to Foreign Fields' Anywhere But Where I Am has the same affect, with or without a candle burning, trust me, I know these things.

Foreign Fields is another band whom I credit, nay, thank, Adam Duritz of Counting Crows for the introduction. In mid February, he posted on Twitter and/or Facebook just absolutely raving about this band, saying how his "mind was blown" by their record, and that everyone should check it out, so of course I did. And my mind too was blown. I had never heard anything like this before. The day I downloaded it, I just listened to it over and over. Every time, thinking "wow, this is fantastic, these guys are brilliant"

Anywhere But Where I Am is my go to unwinding, listen to in bubble bath after a long day, de-stress record. The music is supremely mellow, it calms you, relaxes you; this record soothes your soul. Or, if you're like me and need music to fall asleep, this is the perfect listen; the ethereal sounds that seep from this record, the peacefulness you will feel as you listen will make you drift off, float off to sleep (but only when the record is finished, coz you'll want to keep yourself awake to hear it all play out.) The opening track, From the Lake to the Land begins the journey of this record, and keeps the beautiful momentum going through all thirteen tracks, straight through to the haunting vocals on Perfect Home, and to the closing track Fake Arms. Taller, Where the Willow Tree Died, and The River Kings are my favorite tracks, though all of them are amazing.  

Foreign Fields, who's original moniker Flights was dropped shortly after their appearance at SXSW's Outlaw Roadshow (oh geez, ANOTHER Outlaw Roadshow band? Yes, but I found these guys before they were added to the line-up, so there), as to avoid confusion with another band by that name, developed their sound on the frozen Wisconsin plain, then perfected it in Nashville. The electronic-folk of this record is purely unique. Eric Hillman and Brian Holl are the core of Foreign Fields, with backing from Nathan Reich, Nate Babbs and Clayton Fike. I don't know much about the technical side of music, or the recording process, so I can't tell you the secrets behind the amazing sounds of Anywhere But Where I Am, all I know is that it is one the best albums I've found this year. So good that I not only got a digital copy, but also a hard copy, one that was handmade by the band, literally hand made. The sleeve is folded from paper grocery bag-like paper, the disc hand written and included self taken pictures. There were only a small number of these handmade albums available, and I'm glad I snatched one up.


Foreign Fields will be touring the eastern side of the US this summer with Counting Crows, Filligar and Good Old War on the traveling Outlaw Roadshow. If you are in that area of the country, DO NOT MISS THIS SHOW. Seriously. I would love to be out there to see it. It's for shows like these, and other awesome things I have to miss by living in Spokane, that I really think it's time someone invented a teleporter. Seriously, its 2012, someone get on that. (But then I guess the concept of touring would become obsolete, as bands could stay put and the fans could just come to them...)

I feel like this post doesn't really give this band/record justice. Sometimes it's hard to put into words what you really want to say about the music. So really, all I can say is that this record truly is beautifully brilliant, and you should most defiantly click the link up top and get it. Trust me on this one.   

** Note: If you don't know the Almost Famous reference, shame on you. Watch the movie, it's brilliant. It's one of my most favorite movies ever.