Today's free download is from a promising Wisconsin group known as Field Report. I've gushed about Field Report before, but now I've got a full song for you to sample. "Fergus Falls" is our first sneak peak into Field Report's upcoming full-length studio album debut. The song starts slowly, with lead singer Chris Porterfield's voice accompanied only by guitar. It builds like a nervous heart rate into a harmonizing, foot-tapping song with an alt-country vibe. It's the sound of northern Wisconsin, which is where it was recorded. If given the chance to see these guys live, please do!
Fresh off their Triple M performance in Studio M last Sunday (check out the shoutout they gave us here), here's a free download from Cowboy Junkies. The Canadian folk group has given us the mellow "Angels In The Wilderness" from their current release, Nomad Series Vol. 4: The Wilderness. It's the final volume in the Nomad Series, in which the band aimed to release four albums in 18 months. Mission accomplished! Download the song for free here.
This week's free download is a musical union that we'll refer to as Foster The Kimbra. Foster The People, the masterminds behind last summer's monster hit "Pumped Up Kicks" got together with A-Trak and Kimbra (the female voice in that "Somebody That I Used To Know" track that you might've heard of...) to create a song for Converse's "3 Artists 1 Song" collaborative series. The result is what you'd expect - an incredibly catchy song for the new age of pop. "Warrior" is the soundtrack of an old school arcade game, and I've reached the final level. Somehow, somewhere, Foster The People discovered a cave full of pop hooks, and they're mining it for us to enjoy. Don't disregard Kimbra here, either -- when she's not lending her voice to massive hit songs, she's making music on her own. Try out her song "Settle Down" right here, then check out the video for "Warrior" and download the song for free here.
Did you miss Andrew Bird's recent Wisconsin stop at the Riverside Theater? Don't fret, friend. I've got a little consolation gift for you. In support of his new album Break It Yourself, Andrew Bird released a 7" of two B-sides. Both are covers: "So Much Wine" by The Handsome Family and "The Crown Salesman" by Alpha Consumer (it's okay, I haven't heard of these bands either). You can dowload the latter the for free (in exchange for your email) below.
Eager to hear new music from Fleet Foxes? This might tide you over. Poor Moon is composed of four longtime friends, two of which (Christian Wargo & Casey Wescott) are also in Fleet Foxes. The foxes are joined by brothers Ian and Peter Murray of the band The Christmas Cards. After playing some house parties under a slew of different names, the four friends finally started recording their tunes under the name Poor Moon (after Wargo’s favorite Canned Heat song). Their debut release, an EP titled Illusion, is out now on Sub Pop.
You can download Poor Moon's first single “People In Her Mind” for free below. Poor Moon is currently on tour, but the closest they’ll get to us is Cleveland. Hmm. You might want to hold out for a (probable) tour in support of their upcoming debut full-length album, which is set to be released this fall.
A musician, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist performing since 1996, Andrew Bird produces orchestrated beauties with every song he creates.
The featured download from Andrew Bird, “Oh No”, reminds me of Death Cab and The Shins mixed with an oldies sound like the Beatles and Tony Orlando. The song features catchy whistling and is very mellow and relaxing. Just like when you listen to “Horchata” by Vampire Weekend, the song instantly produces a cheerful mood.
I know we all hate when we find a song and then it becomes popular after you have “claimed” it. We are like, “No that’s MY song.” But “Oh No” may have gained some popularity points being featured in the movie, “Charlie St. Cloud”, starring Zac Efron {insert adoring sigh here}.
Growing up, Andrew Bird was surrounded by classical music, Irish tunes, bluegrass, and folk music. He actually plays the violin in many of his songs too! He is quoted as saying that he found indie rock and pop music to be repetitive and boring, but he now understands it better (good thing, because his indie rock vibe is amazing).
If you love, “Oh No”, and want to hear more, Bird released his twelfth studio album, Break It Yourself, on March 6, 2012. And if you want even more from this insanely talented performer, he will be in Chicago on May 12th, performing at the Auditorium Theatre… Check him out!!
Bethany Cosentino really, really loves her home state of California. It inspired her band name (Best Coast), and her music exemplifies a lo-fi, let’s-go-surf-in-the-sun sound. Her latest dedication to The Golden State is today’s free download – her new song “The Only Place.” This isn't a humble ode, with proud references to Californian amenities like beaches and waves, and somewhat arrogant lines like “why would you live anywhere else,” and “this is the only place for me.” Is this better or worse than Best Coast's cat-inspired debut album, 2010's Crazy For You?
“The Only Place” is the title track from Best Coast’s upcoming second album. As you might’ve guessed, the album art features California (being clutched by a bear, like the state's Bear Flag). You can pick up The Only Place on May 15th – until then, download the first single for free below. You can catch Best Coast live when they perform at the Majestic Theatre on July 25th.
But alas. One musician’s love is another’s displeasure. During the first spin of “The Only Place,” I couldn’t help but think of Death Cab For Cutie’s song “Why You’d Want To Live Here” from 2001’s The Photo Album. Ben Gibbard’s lyrical diss to California’s biggest city lies in stark contrast to Cosentino’s song: “I'm in Los Angeles today, garbage cans comprise the medians of freeways…and I can't see why you'd want to live here.” Ouch.
Which side are you on? Do you love or loathe our western state mate?
The sun is shining, the birds are chirping, it is another gorgeous Monday, fit for another great show at the Crystal Corner tonight.
Through locking ourselves in the barn on Irish Lane, tossing some ideas around, as well as a few choice beverages to...
Hey everybody, we were thrown for a loop by the twist this week, but were able to make one of our "oldie but a goldie" songs fit the mold.
We have a few songs that we have played consistently over the years, and we are very happy that we will be...
We just received word of what this weeks twist is, and...oh boy. We need to take our "signature song" and cut it to only 2:30 without going over. Amberstein does not simply play 2:30 versions of our songs...so this could be interesting.
Last...
In 1984, Rockwell rose to number 2 for 3 weeks in 1984 with "Somebody's Watching Me." The backup singer for the song was Michael Jackson. How did Rockwell get Jackson to help him? Well, Rockwell's real name is Kennedy William Gordy and he...
Have you heard the song "Rumble and Sway" yet on Triple M?
The singer sounds like a raspy blues dude who's definitely been around the block a few times....but surprisingly, Jamie N. Commons is only 23 years old!
He was born in England, but...
Last week, I decided I would try one new, healthy food a week, and asked my facebook friends to make some suggestions.
The first thing I tried was mango. I'm sure I've had other mango flavored things, and mango as part of something else, but...
There's only one thing that might be worse than the Neil Diamond/Barbra Streisand duet "You Don't Bring Me Flowers." And that's Jonathan Suttin doing his best crooning...doing both parts. Most unpleasant.
A lot of people liked this song...
Artist: Alchemilla
Hail From: Boston
Song: 'The Wheel'
Album: Diamonds From The Penny Arcade
Sounds Like: Hole, Pearl Jam
In Their Words: "Alchemilla had been trying to write a ballad for a little while but it wasn't happening. There...
.jpg)
