The Capstan Shafts

Dean Wells writes all the songs, records on a 4-track and plays all the instruments. His asthetic is VERY GbV (short songs and Bob-like song titles) but that's where it ends cos ironically enough he's more like Tobin Sprout. Other influences include Jeff Mangum & Ray Davies. His melodies stick to you like glue which is why The Shafts are all I've listened to for 3 weeks now. He's released (if you can call it that) 7-8 EP's, 5-6 full lengths. This collection of 30 songs is culled from Euridice Proudhon, Her Versus the Sad Cold Eventually & The Sleeved and Grandaughters of the Blacklist.

The Capstan Shafts - Collection
HERE

Camus on Art

“Man may authorize himself to denounce the total injustice of the world, but he cannot affirm its total ugliness. There is a transcendence we experience, every beautiful thing is a promise of it that leads us to prefer this limited and incomplete world to any other. Art leads us to the origin of the revolt against the world, to the extent that it attempts to stamp its form on values in the perpetual process of becoming”

Beulah - Collection (of sorts)

While I wait for ex-Beulah frontman & songwriter Miles Kurosky to put the finishing touches on his first solo record, I thought I would put up this collection of songs from one of my favorite bands who left this world just a bit too soon. One can only hope Miles keeps up that tradition of crafting near perfect pop songs.

01. Gene Autry #
02. If We Can Land a Man on the Moon, Surely I Can Win Your Heart *
03. A Good Man Is Easy to Kill #
04. Silverado Days *
05. The Aristocratic Swells *
06. Hey Brother #
07. Emma Blowgun's Last Stand *
08. Gravity's Bringing Us Down #
09. Landslide Baby +
10. Popular Mechanics for Lovers #
11. Calm Go the Wild Seas *
12. What Will You Do When Your Suntan Fades ? #
13. Warmer *

When Your Heartstrings Break * (1999)
The Coast is Never Clear # (2001)
Yoko + (2003)

HERE

Fountains of Wayne - Traffic and Weather

If you prefer your FoW with a little less gravity and a bit more confection then this is the record for you. It has it all, late 60's early 70's influence, a little jangle, dare I say an 80's feel at times (listen to Someone To Love), some Gram Parsons thrown in for good measure, mix it all up with a dollup of indie and voila, the boys from New Jersey (Andy & Chris) have done it again. Good work gentleman.

Someone To Love
Revolving Dora
This Better Be Good
Michael & Heather at the Baggage Claim
Traffic and Weather

Son Volt - The Search ( 22 track extended)

In addition to the disgustingly amazing new record from Son Volt, iTUNES is offering eight additional tracks as an exclusive download. I've been playing these quite a bit of late which led me to think that if anyone else were releasing "bonus" songs of this caliber, what a career builder they would make. What does all this mean ? Jay Farrar, one of America's finest songwriters. PERIOD. Coltrane Free, Waking World & Acetone Angels are a few of the standout tracks from this exclusive bunch. The proper release contains in my opinion one of the best songs of the year in Methamphetamine, one that over time will lay alongside Windfall & Tear-Stained Eye as classics from the Farrar oeuvre.

Methamphetamine
Coltrane Free
Waking World
Highways & Cigarettes(acoustic)

Robert Pollard - Silverfish Trivia

Check out this great track from the new Robert Pollard Solo LP
Silverfish Trivia due for release on April 17th.

Circle Saw Boys Club

Dylan Hears a Who

I just came across this and had to share. Classic...

Give it a listen here
In other Dylan news there's a newly remasterd version of D.A. Pennebaker's seminal documentary Don't Look Back that contains a bonus disc with new commentary and a bunch of unused footage that includes five never before seen full performances from that tour.

Wilco - Sky Blue Sky

The Nonesuch effort drops May 15.

Tracklist:

01 Either Way
02 You Are My Face
03 Impossible Germany
04 Sky Blue Sky
05 Side With the Seeds
06 Shake It Off
07 Please Be Patient With Me
08 Hate It Here
09 Leave Me (Like You Found Me)
10 Walken
11 What Light
12 On and On and On

Richmond Fontaine - Thirteen Cities

The new Richmond Fontaine record produced by JD Foster have enlisted the services of Joey Burns of Calexico and Howe Gelb of Giant Sand and have frankly, hit one out of the park. There's nothing like the lugubrious musings of one Willy Vlautin.

2007 : Now Playing

Son Volt - The Search
Wilco - Sky Blue Sky
Dungen - Tio Bitar
Kings of Leon - Because of The Times
The High Llamas - Can Cladders
Ted Leo & the Pharmacists - Living With the Living
Modest Mouse - We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank
Andrew Bird - Armchair Apocrypha
Lucinda Williams - West
Earlies - The Enemy Chorus

Teri Falini - The Room

'The Room', the follow-up to her angsty debut 'Sun Under Me', shows a level of songwriting that continues to grow which in my opinion was only alluded to on her debut. Listen to the tracks 'Cut' & 'Broken Man' from her debut for confirmation. While 'The Room' is more of a 'downer' record, there's something about it that draws me in and forces me to hit play again. Some great tracks here from the 'trippy' opener, 'Tangerine', the hooky 'Undressed', the tribal-esqe title track 'The Room' and my current favorite song of 2007, the epic 'My Father'. It's refreshing to listen to a female artist who's unlike anything I've heard. PJ Harvey comes to mind, the singer from Concrete Blonde perhaps. Still, you're nowhere in the ballpark.
Highly recommended (Amazon review)

Undressed

My Father

The Room

The Shins - Wincing The Night Away

Once indie, now headed for the mainstream The Shins have created something quite unique. Taking their time in James Mercer's basement studio with help from Joe Chiccarelli, Wincing the Night Away might be the best Shins record to date.

Phantom Limb

Top 25 Records of 2006

01. Robert Pollard - from a compound eye
02. Drive-by Truckers - a blessing and a curse
03. Sparklehorse - dreamt of light years in the belly of the mtn
04. M.Ward - post-war
05. Calexico - garden ruin
06. Benoit Pioulard - precis
07. The Keene Brothers - blues & boogie shoes
08. Minus 5 - gun album
09. Deadstring Brothers - starving winter report
10. Frank Black - fastman raiderman
11. Bob Dylan - modern times
12. Norman & Nancy Blake - back home in sulphur springs
13. Loose Fur - born again in the usa
14. The Hold Steady - boys & girls in america
15. Howe Gelb - 'sno-angel like you
16. Robert Pollard - normal happiness
17. Richard Buckner - meadow
18. Scott Biram - graveyard shift
19. Pernice Brothers - live a little
20. Tim Easton - ammunition
21. Gob Iron - death songs of the living
22. Midlake - the trials of van occupanther
23. Neko Case - fox confessor brings the flood
24. Destroyer - rubies
25. The Flaming Lips - at war with the mystics

Sun Kil Moon - Ghosts of The Great Highway

If you do nothing else today go out and pick up 'Ghosts of the Great Highway'. It will be the best thing you do all day.