Tag: folk

  • Brother and sister duo Angus & Julia Stone continue to take one’s breath away with their new single, “Snow,” which feels a lot more like summer than its namesake.  The overall ambiance of the track — particularly its lovely background music — reminds me of The Beach Boys.

    Read more

  • With all of the different ways to discover new music these days, it’s not very hard to find a great song. Finding one so beautiful that it gives you goosebumps, however, can be rather difficult. Well, that’s exactly what we have here today with Auni’s ethereal track “The River.” Honestly, I haven’t heard a song…

    Read more

  • “Hide and Seek” by Sam Levin is a wonderful folk-tronic tune that mixes acoustic guitars and electronic beats with vocals that split the difference between pop and folk. There’s a playful element to the song that reminds me of Ben Lee’s music. I’m also reminded of Ben Folds and, to a lesser degree, Regina Spektor.

    Read more

  • interview by Michael McCarthy On October 21st folk rockers Streets of Laredo will release their sophomore album, WILD, via Dine Alone Records. The album is a spectacular set of tunes rich in kaleidoscopic color with lyrics that are inspiring as they inspired. With several different percussive instruments, horns, bass, electric and acoustic guitars and both…

    Read more

  • onDeadWaves, the duo comprised of Polly Scattergood and James Chapman, have released Dusk Versions, two trippy tracks that will have you feeling like you’re gazing at the sun as it sets. First, is “California,” which is performed sans percussion, giving it a somewhat eerie vibe. You can almost hear ghosts calling from beyond way off…

    Read more

  • Read more

  • Read more

  • reviews and photos by Michael McCarthy As I previously mentioned, I was unable to make Boston Calling on Saturday. First, I woke up late at 11 when I’d meant to get up at 9 and take the 11 train into Boston from Lowell. Then I went to the train station to take the 1 train,…

    Read more

  • We previously interviewed the insanely talented Polly Scattergood in January of 2014 after naming her electro-pop masterpiece Arrows our Best Album of 2013.  Now she’s back but this time she’s delivered something that’s practically the exact opposite of Arrows, onDeadWaves, a very organic sounding, psychedelic folk record made as a duo with James Chapman, aka…

    Read more

  • Our readers in the U.S. might not have heard of Norwegian singer/songwriter Bellman yet, but in some parts of the world he is a very big deal. He released his critically acclaimed debut album, Mainly Mute, in 2009 and had his first big hit single with an uplifting song called, “Spaceship Move Slow” and it’s…

    Read more

  • interview by Michael McCarthy I was recently introduced to the music of London-based singer/songwriter Lena Laki, whose magical music is dreamy folk but with a hint of jazz elegance. Her debut EP, Take Me With, opens with a song called “Another Woman” and it’s easy to imagine Nina Simone singing it back in the day.…

    Read more

  • Read more

  • Sometimes when two artists get together and collaborate it’s a labor of love that’s largely enjoyable only to the two of them. That is not the case with Gary Lucas and Jann Klose’s just released album Stereopticon; their songs are not only accessible but a whole lot of fun. This is what you get when…

    Read more

  • “Little Soldier” is a beautiful Christmas ballad by the always fabulous singer/songwriter Mindy Gledhill.

    Read more

  • “Against my better instincts / I go against my better instincts,” sings Justin Miner during LA band Miner’s uppity, new folk rock single “Better Instincts.” At first, it sounds out like it’s going to be subtle electronica then it shifts to folk and then folk rock, by which point it will have totally won you…

    Read more