December 30, 2008 • 6:26 pm
If you have frequented the P&S from time to time you’d know that Alela Diane has been on my list of favorites for a while now. Her critically acclaimed 2006 debut, The Pirate’s Gospel, was one of the best albums of that year and now with Beggars Group, she has a new disc out in February of ‘09 titled To Be Still.
Diane has a voice that cuts through to the soul. She possesses the warmth you need on those cold nights; she ruptures the ground in which she walks through desert and trees. Diane warbles birds with lace and rustic rifles wrapped in silks.
Below is the track “White As Diamonds” from To Be Still.
(mp3) White As Diamonds
PREORDER on CD $12.00
PREORDER on dbl LP $18.00
(mp3) White As Diamonds – Daytrotter Sessions
Filed under: New Music , Alela Diane, Beggars Group, The Pirate's Gospel, White As Diamonds
December 29, 2008 • 10:55 pm
I came across this when I was over at AK earlier in the holiday and have had it on ever since in my Christmas playlist and I thought I’d post it here. Enjoy…oh, and Happy Holidays…
From Chris Schlarb,
We didn’t have much money this year so we started a tradition instead. Every year, as a family, we will try to make a short Christmas album with everyone contributing. This year, we got a little Fragile with it. We have tunes as a family, and tunes in smaller groups.
01. Christmastime In L.A. [mp3]
02. Christmastime in Egypt [mp3]
03. Silent Night, Holy Night [mp3]
04. Jingle Bells [mp3]
Recently signed to Asthmatic Kitty, Chris Schlarb (also of I Heart Lung) “…is a composer, producer and performing artist based in Long Beach, California. His debut solo album, Twilight & Ghost Stories, was a massive collaboration with over fifty musicians and was critically hailed as both, “40 minutes of avant-garde bliss” by the New York Observer and as “a monumental achievement” by FFWD Weekly.”
Purchase Twilight and Ghost Stories
Filed under: Christmas Music , Asthmatic Kitty, Chris Schlarb, Christmas, mp3
I first heard of Josh Tillman when I got a hold of one of the limited releases (limit 150) of Long May You Run, J. Tillman and was blown away. Think Neil Young meets Will Oldham meets Whiskeytown. Anyway, J. Tillman (a member of Fleet Foxes if you didn’t know) now has a new LP out entitled,Vacilando Territory Blues The below track, “Steel on Steel”, is off this new release and the entire album is currently available on iTunes, but if you want it in your hands, it’s not officially released until January 20, 2009. After my first run through, I think it may be his most complete work to date and it’s sure to make most best of lists come next year.
(mp3) Steel on Steel
Filed under: New Music , J. Tillman, Josh Tillman, Vacilando Territory Blues
Poetry may be the only way to describe the music that couple, Reverend Thomas Vito Aiuto and his wife Monique make on their Self Titled release for Asthmatic Kitty. With the help of Sufjan Stevens, Welcome to the Welcome Wagon unlocks the doors of their sanctuary and invites the public in to be washed over with their simple hymns of love of God and each other. Pre-album, I picture these two around a fire place on a rug in a humble home or family gathering, with Vito strumming a swapmeet guitar and Monique tapping out time on the table, singing out old time hymns and smiles from ear to ear.
Welcome to the Welcome Wagon
Simply put, this may be the best new music of the year.
(mp3) Sold! To the Nice Rich Man
Filed under: New Music , Asthmatic Kitty, mp3, Sufjan Stevens, Welcome to the Welcome Wagon
