Category Archives: Folk

Acoustic, Folk, Hip Hop, Indie, Listing It Up, Music, Pop, Punk, Rock, Solo

BHP Best of 2015

17 December, 2015 Brian Mc 1 Comment

2015 is wrapping up quickly so I felt it was best I get this out of the way before I become too involved with the holiday festivities.

As much as I wish I was more active on this blog, I will admit I am still listening to as much music as possible whenever time admits. I am not giving up just yet folks.

With that said, here are my choice releases for 2015:

BHP Best of 2015

Beach Slang – The Things We Do To Find People Who Feel Like Us
-This album was one of my favorite releases of 2015 before it was even released. I knew I was going to adore it before I heard it and I did. This is one of those bands that has really reached back into the 90s with their style and I love everything about it.

Yotam Ben-Horin – Distant Lover
-Yotam blew me away with his latest solo album. This dude rules and is one of my favorite songwriters out there.

Lucero – All A Man Should Do
-I love Lucero. With that said, when I first listened to this album, I was not digging it much. In fact, it was not until my third listen that I realized how solid the album is. I can not stop listening to it. Yeah, it is not like their older material but it still owns.

Baroness – Purple
-This album was literally just released (12/18/2015 for those of you who are wondering). Luckily there is that edit option on there here ol’ blog because this needs to be on my list. This album is perfect, absolutely perfect. After all this band has been through, it is nice to see them return with such force.

John Moreland – High On Tulsa Heat
-John Moreland is incredible. Words can not express my appreciation for this album. Seriously, I can not write anything about this, you will need to listen to it for yourself.

Frank Turner – Positive Songs For Negative People
-I do not think it is possible for Frank Turner to release an album that I do not like. This guy is a modern-day musical hero to me.

Nathanial Rateliff & The Night Sweats – Self-Titled
-This album was a blast to listen to.

Teenage Bottlerocket – Tales From Wyoming
-Spite losing Brandon recently, Teenage Bottlerocket gained a lot of attention with their power pop punk release. This catchy as hell album guarantees for a good time.

Annabel – Having It All
-This album seriously made me want to be a better person. I find myself listening to this album on the days where I feel like I need a boost in the feelings department.

The Sidekicks – Runners In The Nerved World
-I swear this band matures more and more with every release.

Joey Cape – Stitch Puppy
-This album was so beautiful yet gloomy. Cape has proved himself to me once again that he is one of the best songwriters on the face of this planet.

Purple – (409)
-Purple are fun and encompass rock n roll to the max. I do not even know what that means. This band is all about the fun and released an amazing album full of catchy tracks.

toyGuitar – In This Mess
-If this album happened to fall under your radar, you are totally missing out. Happy-go-lucky-punk-rock-beach-jams should sum up this album.

Success – Radio Recovery
-Success dropped one of the most catchy punk albums of the year. I love these dudes and think everyone needs to check them out. I also love the fact that their album cover pays tribute in a sense to Fifteen.

Refused – Freedom
-The last time these guys released something, it was the late 90s. I never thought they would put something out again, but they mostly regrouped after some touring and dropped this killer album. A lot of people said it was over-produced and forced, but I still like it.

Sam Russo – Greyhound Dreams
-This was an excellent album that I am glad I was able to check out. Sam Russo takes storytelling and songwriting to the best level.

Dr. Dre – Compton
-This was the album I listened to the most this year easily. For over two months, I listened to this album in full every single day. I had a slight obsession with it. The best part about about this is the first time I heard it, I thought to myself that it was not even that good. By the time the album ended, I was hooked. I even listened to it this morning.

Patrick Sweany – Daytime Turned To Nighttime
-This album just makes me want to drink whisky on a porch at night with my close pals. Nice to see Pat continue on with his passion. I sure do miss the days whenI could hit up the Zephyr and see him play.

Johnathan Richman – “O Sun” & “Keith” (7″ Releases)
-I had the privilege to review both of these singles thanks to Blue Arrow Records and all I have to say is that I can not wait for Richman to release his next full-length…

Well folks, that is all I have at this time. I am sure I am missing something and will probably edit this post 7 more times. For any of you paying attention, this blog has been updated just a few times…

Until then, happy holidays to you and yours. I appreciate anyone who has ever taken a moment to check out what I have to share on this site. If it was not for you, I would probably have thrown the towel in a long time ago.

Acoustic, Folk, Music, New Release, Punk, Review

Album Review: Sam Russo – Greyhound Dreams

16 November, 2015 Brian Mc Leave a comment

There’s something to be said about storytelling and incorporating it into music. Sam Russo does that without skipping a thought or a beat.

(Speaking of beat, I should be clear and note that I am talking about the musician Sam Russo, not the button pushing DJ. I just wanted to make myself clear there. Thanks.)

Hailing from Haverhill, England, Russo has been playing his own style of a punk-ish Americana folk-rock for years now. Having released his debut over 3 years ago, Greyhound Dreams (Red Scare Industries) is an impressive follow up.

Russo is not just another punker with a guitar and some pent up anger. When I listen to him, I think of a hybrid mix of Tim Barry, Dave Hause, and Frank Turner. The beauty of Russo is that his music does not sound like a rip off of any of the previously mentioned and is genuine and at times flooding with anguished, heartfelt memories.

Opening track “Sometimes”, a blatant blast at a harsh personal outcry, was simple yet whole, especially when others jumped in to sing along in the chorus. The song was depressing as hell when you realize why Russo admits being unruly.

“Dream All You Want” contained so many visuals in the lyrics that I had to listen to it over a couple of times to my mind could settle down. Russo singing “you either chase your dreams, or you chase your dreams away” made it clear to me, this was not a happy song. This song wasn’t just about dreams, it also was the unspoken reality of those dreams never coming true.

“Crayfish Tales” was one of the better tracks on this album in my opinion. I swear to god, this guy and I have lived in the same shoes at one point in our past. I almost predicted that he was going to sing a couple of times. “Runaways” was also a great tune and a little more upbeat and personable.

I loved that “Forever West” spoke on Russo’s journey that he experienced in the states. While listening to it, I could not help but think of my own past experiences from the time I stayed in a ghetto Motel 6 in the hood of Baltimore to when, years later, my fiancé and I drove 2800 miles to New Mexico almost non-stop. It really hit home, especially when he sung about the sun coming over the mountains as I experienced that and it was amazing. It was like a musical observation, but different.

Russo sang his heart out on “Nobody’s Fool”. I feel that this was a more important track for him as reminisced on his past pain caused from heartbreak. “I would give you everything and just disappear” was sung towards the end making for a true statement of love.

“Western Union” closed the album down strong. Things picked up in the middle with some extra help on vocals, but mostly Russo held this song down solo. Not the happiest of stories, but incredibly impactful on those lonely memories.

Russo touched on something often on Greyhound Dreams that I think we all need to consider: Life is short and full of difficulties. We’ve all been through a personal hell at some point, but Russo really leads by example in his songs (and even song titles) by singing about moving on and never stopping. No one ever said being a human being was an easy thing.

I will be honest and say I never gave Russo the chance I should have. I missed out, that is a fact. Hell, the dude even supported The Falcon overseas and I still was lame and did not buy everything he ever recorded. (Disclosure: I would have been privy to Russo years ago had I made it to that Tim Barry show at the Grog Shop…)

If you are a fan of early Frank Turner music, you will adore this album. I am not sitting here trying to compare the two, I just know what I like, and Greyhound Dreams is pretty outstanding. Russo has won himself a new fan and probably a whole lot more once they give him a well-deserved chance.

With the year coming to an end, I just found myself another album that needs to be penned onto my best of 2015 post. Nicely done Russo. I look forward to hearing more from you.

Bluegrass, Country, Folk, Music, Music News, Punk, Rock

Darius Koski Solo Debut To Drop April 7th

9 March, 2015 Brian Mc Leave a comment

Hey Swingin’ Utters fans, Darius Koski is about to debut his solo album. Before you start throwing down assumptions that the guy is going acoustic just to to make a quick buck, please see what he had to say about the whole solo route:

“I’ve been wanting to have an outlet for it for so long—for longer than I’ve been with the Swingin’ Utters, basically. And I just hadn’t done anything with it. I didn’t really know how I was going to release it, I hadn’t done much live, I have problems remembering lyrics… So I’ve been putting it off for so many years, but it’s finally coming together, and I’m thrilled about it. I’m totally going to go for it.”

Now that you’ve read that, how about you take a listen to one of this new songs:

https://soundcloud.com/fat-wreck-chords/darius-koski-listen

You’re weren’t expecting that much twang were you? I know I was not, but I will tell you this, I love it.

Dropping on April 7th, Sisu, is in a genre really of its own with a plethora (yes I said plethora) instrument playing including guitar, piano, banjo, accordion, violin, glockenspiel, vibraphone, melodica, ukulele, and percussion. This is not just some solo album. This is years of built up creativity by Koski finally being released property.

I know I am stoked to hear this.

Pre-orders are up at Fat Wreck as of today. Hurry up and get you some.

Cleveland, Folk, Music, Music News

Check It Out: Unsung Episode #1: Jason Molina and Songs: Ohia’s Didn’t It Rain

5 March, 2015 Brian Mc Leave a comment

I owe my pal Kyle for turning me into a huge Jason Molina fan.

Yesterday, WXPN aired a hour-long special on the late and great Jason Molina.

The moment I learned of this, I stopped what I was doing to tell him. Now I am sharing this with you.

Last night, WXPN in Philadelphia aired the first of Folkadelphia’s Unsung specials of which Jason Molina and Songs: Ohia were the focus. The hour-long feature centered around a watershed moment in Molina’s career, specifically the time leading up to Didn’t It Rain, it’s creation, and the transition to Magnolia Electric Co. Host Fred Kittel guides us through the time period and explores Molina’s impact on a larger scale. The episode includes conversations with important partners in the creation of Didn’t It Rain as well as a compilation of Songs: Ohia covers by local Philadelphia bands. Stream the full episode, covers, etc via the links below.

STREAM FULL SHOW VIA SOUNDCLOUD
https://soundcloud.com/secretlycanadian/folkadelphia-songs-ohia-xpn/

SONGS: OHIA WXPN FOLKADELPHIA COVERS
https://soundcloud.com/secretlycanadian/sets/folkadelphia-songs-ohia-covers/s-ThSEr

Listen to Unsung Episode #1: Jason Molina and Songs: Ohia’s Didn’t It Rain. Make sure you have some spare time on your hands as you are going to get sucked into this. It is a very interesting look into Molina and his time in Philadelphia while recording and those influenced by it.

Now comes the cool part… Some of those folk who were influenced by the late and great Molina have contributed to a very appropriate compilation.

Stream and download the entire Songs: Ohia Folkadelphia Covers Compilation, which features Restorations, Psalmships (ft. Mike “Slo-Mo” Brenner), The Weaks (ft. Frances Quinlan from Hop Along), Teen Men, Laura Baird, and Adeline Hotel performing Jason Molina’s music.

Enjoy. I know I did. Especially that Restorations cover…

Acoustic, Electronic, Folk, Indie, Music, New Release, Pop, Review, Rock

Album Review: Bombadil – Hold On

28 February, 2015 Brian Mc Leave a comment

I was told Bombadil, who hail from Durham, NC, were a pop-folk act that I needed to listen to.

Seeing they hail from the same state as a certain Brothers band that I adore enough to tattoo their cover art on me, I figured why the heck not.

I cannot say I’d heard of Bombadil prior to checking them out, but after doing a little research, I learned that they have been around since 2005 and caught the attention of Ramseur Records thanks to their MySpace page. Next month, the band is dropping their fifth full length album on titled Hold On.

I was not sure about “Coughing on the F Train” when I first listened to it. The song reminded me of an 80s track mixed with a storyline Beck might have created in the 90s. Overall, it was catchy, but just slower in some areas. One song in and I already started to wonder if this band had any folk in them (Note: Their older material has a much heavier folk appeal to it from what I have listened to after writing this up).

“Amy’s Friend” cleared my question up immediately. This track was a gentle duet that clearly has swooning abilities with great harmonies throughout.

I enjoyed “Bill You For Your Trash”, especially the guitar solo towards the end. I could not help but think of Simon & Garfunkel in a sense while listening to this track.

“I Can’t Believe in Myself and Love You Too” made me just want to crawl in a hole with a bottle of something strong. What a sad track. I can not say I dug the backing vocals though, it was almost too much.

“Framboise” was one of my favorite tracks on the album. It was almost like listening to something from the 60s. I loved the mix of French and English singing on this track. I secretly wish this song would have morphed into a “Bohemian Rhapsody” of sorts. The explosion at the end I was waiting for, never happened though. Still, very creative track.

“Love You Too Much” carried one hell of a Motown feel. Robinson’s vocal range on this track was impressive to say the least. I have the feeling this track is ten times better live.

I laughed to myself when I saw the title “Rhapsody in Black and White” given my previous thought regarding Queen. I was not too sure about this track. It was almost too weird. I understood the premise, but was this serious or satire? Also, can I just comment how much Robinson sounds like Pete Townshend? I can not tell you how long it took me to find the perfect comparison, but while listening to this song, it finally struck me.

“Honest” should have been called “Brutally Honest”. If this was not a personal confession of revalation, then Robinson has one creative ass thought process. This track easily could have been a Brand New track. I am not sure how many of you will even understand what I just stated, so allow me to clarify: This track was super heavy on the emo, even with the random electronic breakdown towards the end. This was an amazing, powerful song that I was not expecting.

“Love Is Simply” closed out the album with a very well put together composure. There was so much going on in this track. I candidly thought of Flight of the Concords, but only due to the singing styles. This track was pro-love, at least I think it is. The burning bag comment kind of threw me off.

Bombadil has their own unique approach to pop-folk with a more subtle sound that in turn is quite comforting and catchy at times. I really think their genre is a lot broader than they get credit for.

Plenty of people are going to get into this band with Hold On as it almost caters to everyone. With plenty of creativity in creating their own style, I can admit that I am now a fan.