140 Character Review: Chairlift - Something

Chairlift - Something: 

The sound of splashing in an ankle deep puddle of synth

balanced by the reality of getting wet. 

140 Character Review: Amadou & Mariam - Dougou Badia

Amadou & Mariam - Dougou Badia: 

Evidence that music has a self-propelling force.  

Making music for the reward of making music.

140 Character Review: Joe Cocker - Hard Knocks

Joe Cocker - Hard Knocks:

Joe Cocker is to himself as the saddle is to the horse.

Topping Christian rock stations soon (excluding "I Hope").

140 Character Record Review: Rodrigo y Gabriela - Area 52

Rodrigo y Gabriela - Area 52:

Kept in a case that reads:

May Spontaneously Combust.

Use only to incite uninhibited dancing and mass joy.

Meet & Greet: Jeff Lang (A Video Sampler)

My argument begins and ends like this: not enough people know about Jeff Lang.

'World's Best Guitarist' is a label that gets thrown around a little too loosely, but never enough at the aforementioned Aussie, who could probably play his shoelaces better than most, with a quiet bravado that might only be found 'down under'.

With two fistfuls of proper studio releases, including, most recently, last October's Carried in Mind, as well as collaborations with Chris Whitley, Bob Brozman, and musicians around the world complementing a half dozen live releases, Lang has amassed an impressive catalog.

Equally impressive is his guitar closet, having been seen playing everything from a Weissenborn hollow neck, to lap steel, single and tri-cone resonators, a fiberglass body Airline Resoglass, the 11 string fretless Godin Glissentar, and a pretty mean stomp box.

Jeff's playing is concise and exacting yet flowing with fleshy brawn.  He doesn't so much play as he does let the instruments speak through the song and around his versifying lyrics.

Listen for yourself with the video sampler below and see what kind of labels you come up with.

Song: "Southern Highlands Daughter"
Album: Half Seas Over 

Check out more videos after the jump.

Johnny Otis - 12.28.1921 – 1.17.2012

Johnny Otis passed away this week.

I'm not going to pretend I knew a lot about him before hearing that news, but the man lived an amazing life.  Check out the NY Times rememberance on his life here.

We can all hope to live a life this full.

140 Character Record Review: Laura Gibson - La Grande

Laura Gibson - La Grande:

Fully developed like an older sister;

one that Zooey Deschanel et. al. can aspire to be.

In The Headphones - January 18th, 2012

The Barr Brothers - "Lord I Just Can't Keep From Crying"

Laura Gibson "The Fire"

Daniel Rossen - "Saint Nothing"

Woods - "Any Other Day"

✌ WOODS - Any Other Day ✌ from EyeBodega on Vimeo.

140 Character Record Review - Kathleen Edwards - Voyageur

Kathleen Edwards - Voyageur:

Beautifully filling the cracks between genres with substance,

but without breaking any molds.

140 Character Record Review: The Little Willies - For The Good Times

The Little Willies - For The Good Times: 

When are covers not covers? 
When musicianship doesn't allow imitation.

140 Character Record Review: Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings - Soul Time!

Sharon Jones and The Dap-Kings - Soul Time!: 

Soul like a birthmark that can't be covered; 

funky even when she doesn't wanna be. 

Albums to Look Forward to in 2012

Galactic - Carnivale Electicos
Release Date: February 17th

Funk, funk, and more funk.  All built around Mardi Gras from New Orleans to Brazil.  A party record made for a party...to party to.  I can dig that. 




The Shins - Port of Morrow
Release Date: March 2012

James Mercer with a bunch of new members.  Should be interesting to see if Natalie Portman still thinks they'll change your life. 

Australia by theshins

Craig Finn - Clear Heart, Full Eyes
Release Date: January 24th

Love the rootsy sound on this with Craig Finn's distinctive voice, lyricism, and delivery. 



The Alabama Shakes - TBD
Release Date: TBD

Just in case you need a little primer, check out their EP here.

Andrew Bird - Break It Yourself
Release Date: March 6th

Check out all the details here.

Andrew Bird - Break It Yourself from Mom+Pop on Vimeo.

Dr. Dog - Be the Void 
Release Date: February 7th

Get down with the dog.

Dr. Dog - That Old Black Hole by antirecords

Gift of Gab - The Next Logical Progression
Release Date: March 2012

I guess all we can say is that it's the next logical progression.

First video for "Everything is Fine" (featuring Latyrx and George Clinton) coming in February. 

Kathleen Edwards - Voyageur
Release Date: January 17th

Check out the new video for "Change the Sheets" here.