Folk

Review of The Duke and the King's self-titled album

2/12/2012
Nesh Pillay
Artist: 
The Duke and the King

Listening to new music can be daunting. Sometimes you have to listen to a song multiple times before you form an opinion on it. Sometimes, all it takes is a few minutes of a track to decide you love it. And rarely, very rarely, you find a song that you love the second you hear the first note.

Sassparilla's 'The Darnest Thing' album review

1/16/2012
My Nguyen
Artist: 
Sassparilla

Mainly comprised of Kevin “Gus” Blackwell (vocals, cigar box guitar, national resonator guitar), the father and son combo of Ross “Dagger” MacDonald (harmonica) and Colin “Sweet Pea” MacDonald (washtub bass), Naima (vocals, accordion, washboard), and Justin Burkhart (drums), Sassparilla is a rollicking band filled with many a jaunty, bluesy rendition that can coax even the most predisposed human beings to get riled up in a finger-snapping and body-rocking kind of way.

Rumer's 'Seasons of My Soul' album review

12/18/2011
My Nguyen
Artist: 
Rumer

Years of patience finally paid off for the UK artist Rumer. With two nominations from the people behind the MOJO annual awards, (taking home the award for Breakthrough Artist, but losing the honor of Best Album of the Year to the Arctic Monkeys’ Suck It and See), 2011 has been an exciting year for the singer-songwriter.

Album review: 'West River' by Delphia Blize

10/30/2011
Stephanie Trottier
Artist: 
Delphia Blize
A folk-genre must-have

Delphia Blize, a Minneapolis, Minnesota, singer-songwriter, has made an epic album that will pierce the hearts of every listener with the lyrics that leave him or her with a feeling of longing.

Her soft voice and help from musicians like Jonathan Kingham, John Munson, Darren Jackson, and Jacqueline Ultan on this album make it a folk genre must-have. West River is a great addition to any music collection. Folk seems to be gaining popularity and I would not be surprised if Ms. Blize rose to fame along with the revived genre.

Orba Squara covers Lady Gaga's 'Pokerface'

9/1/2011
Stephanie Trottier

Orba Squara, also known as Mitch Davis, has made a spectacular cover of Lady Gaga's "Pokerface." Stripped down and bare of all flashy costumes and electro-pop backgrounds, Davis gives the famous song,"Pokerface," an almost classy American-folk feel.

One of Davis' songs, "Perfect Timing," was used in an iPod commercial. He's one of those great artists who are left ignored after a thirty second clip on a commercial. And, as sad as it is to say, that is what happens to most underground artists.

Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros' 'Home'

9/1/2011
Stephanie Trottier

This is one of those sing-in-the-car types of songs. I absolutely have to sing along to it. It is just one of those that demand every music lover's attention. It is a fun and lively way to say, "I Love You."

Starting off with some catchy whistling and rhythmic guitar, the song brings an old Wild West feel to your ears. Trumpets come in and add a fun element to the tune.

Horse Feathers' 'Curs in the Weeds'

9/1/2011
Stephanie Trottier

I honestly do not know how I could ever get through a day without hearing this song. It might be the violin. It might be the unique dynamics. It might be the tender male voice quietly layered upon everything, or it might be the sneaky entrances of a beautiful female voice accompanying the man.

I fell so in love with the song that I decided to learn it on guitar. After I played it through once, I realized the beautiful simplicity of it. A band is truly talented when they can take simple chords and make them sound elegantly complex.

Jolie Holland's "I Wanna Die" Review

9/1/2011
Stephanie Trottier

“I Wanna Die” by Jolie Holland is a beautifully written American-folk acoustic piece by a Texas-born singer. Used on the soundtrack for the movie According to Greta, this song is an epic masterpiece of southern charm.

The acoustic bass and intricate finger picking in the background adds to the rusticity of Jolie Holland’s style. Her musicality is impeccable. She is just another overlooked artist to add to the world’s list, which is a shame. If she wants to die, I’d have to stop her because I hope she makes more music like this. I simply want to stay alive to hear it, too.

"Seems Like Home to Me" by Two Gallants Review

9/1/2011
Stephanie Trottier

The Two Gallants’ song, "Seems Like Home to Me," is three minutes and 47 seconds of pure, wretched, glorious, happiness. Honestly, the sound made my ears want to crumple up on themselves. But, in all fairness, I had to listen to it again to provide a fair perspective, but there was something about the song I could not get enough of.

As rough and stripped down as the music is, it lends a certain pure talent to music that we rarely find amid the Eminem and Nicki Minaj obsessed radio stations. I think that's why the song appeals to me.

"Neon Streets" By Caitlin Canty Review

9/1/2011
Stephanie Trottier

“Neon Streets” by Caitlin Canty is a deep and well-thought out folk song. Canty’s voice reminds me of Kimya Dawson in the beginning, but then I begin to realize that her voice is her own.

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