The countdown continues here with songs 15 – 6. Hope you are enjoying this list as much as I enjoyed putting it together. I am amazed at the plethora of music worth listening to that has come out in the past few months. The rest of the list will come this weekend.
This is definitely the most listened to song of the year so far, partly because I got it back in December. I think I wore it out, or it might be higher on this list.
One of the best songs yet from a band that is aiming to establish itself as an indie-folk mainstay with the release of their sophomore record of the same name.
The clever and insightful lyrics of Lupe matched up with a killer Modest Mouse sample is the perfect recipe for my favorite hip-hop song of the year thus far.
My wife referred to this album as elevator music, but I just can’t get enough of it. I especially love the little guitar riff that comes in and out of the background of this track. It complements the Kenny G-like sax quite well. You can join my wife and mock it if you like. But that is an elevator I would love to stay on.
The instrumentation on this song and the rest of this album is just phenomenal. I had the hardest time choosing a song off of this album to include on this list. Any of a number of songs could be taking this spot. I can’t wait to see these guys open for The National next week at Cain’s Ballroom.
Not a fan of the way she does the intro, but I really like her inflection on the chorus. I think her voice almost sounds better as she hits some of the high notes leading up to the chorus. Not as powerful or moving as the original, but it is worth a listen. Remember: Don’t judge a song by it’s cover.
I get emails all day and night from people who want me to listen to their music and write about it. And most of the time, I listen to a few seconds then put it in the archive folder of my Gmail.
Something happened the other day though. I was trying to empty my inbox, but instead opened an email from a New Haven based folk group named Plume Giant. I didn’t remember seeing it in my inbox, so I read through it and listened to their attached song Fool Hall.
I liked it. I liked it a lot. In fact, it was the first time in a long time I’ve immediately liked something that found it’s way to my submissions email. I email them back saying I was interested in hearing the whole thing, and a week later a CD mailer finds its way to my mailbox.
I was a very happy blogger when this CD EP came in.
I put it in my computer, rip it immediately and listen to it. It must have been on repeat for a solid 3 hours.
This EP is good. Real good. The group says they don’t have a frontman, 10 seconds into the first track and it becomes clear why. Vocal harmonies are what sold me on this group so quickly, and what make this so enjoyable to listen to again, and again, and again.
Have I talked about how many times I’ve listened to this EP? I have? Well I’m going to say it again, because this EP is very easy to listen to on repeat. Here’s a snapshot of my iTunes. I’ve had this EP for a week now, and in that time I’ve done pretty much nothing by study, write for my university paper, and drive (all perfect things to do while listening to music.) I did the math, and well… I listened to the six Plume Giant a total of 70 times, an average of 10 song plays a day.
So, for fans of folk, especially of Sea Wolf and Fleet Foxes, this EP is worth the listen and your money.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Newport Folk Festival. This historic event is taking place this weekend (Aug. 1-2) at Fort Adams Park in Newport, RI. Pete Seeger, one of the co-founders of the festival will actually be there performing both nights. Tonight he’ll be joined by Judy Collins. The line-up is pretty incredible, including both the legends of folk music and the contemporary pioneers. Yesterdays line-up was simply stellar with acts such as The Decemberists, Fleet Foxes, Billy Bragg, The Avett Brothers, Iron & Wine and more. I can only imagine what musical euphoria was experienced in Newport yesterday. Amazingly enough, today has just as great of a line-up with Joe Pug, Deer Tick, Elvis Perkins, Josh Ritter, Neko Case and of course closing with Pete Seeger and Judy Collins. I know what you’re thinking, and I feel your pain. Why can’t events like this take place closer to us. Well even though we may not have gotten to experience this historic weekend, thanks to NPR we don’t have to leave this weekend empty handed. The great folks at NPR Music have put together a 12-song folk sampler made up of artists that performed this weekend at the Newport Folk Festival. It’s a great playlist and is completely free to download.
