Cass McCombs

 

 Cass McCombs will release his second album of this year very soon. I have been meaning to get into him for quite awhile and after his teriffic FYF set, I have been listening to him more often. His newest single from the supposedly more upbeat Humor Risk is titled "The Same Thing." If this track is any sort of barometer for the rest of the record then this year we will have seen two solid albums from McCombs making him one of the most active musicians of the year. 

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The Same Thing

St. Vincent

The queen of solidarity St. Vincent returns with another strong batch oddball kitchness with Strange Mercy. This will be on everyone's top five of the year I guarantee it. St. Vincent has proven to be an artist of considerable skill and uniqueness about her. I don't know if I like this record more than Actor yet, but I do know that St. Vincent is one of those people who is going to be relevant for a long long time.

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Northern Lights

Richard Swift

Richard Swift has a new 12" coming out in October entitled Walt Wolfman, and has already released the first single "Whitman" of course about Walt Whitman. I love Swift's music, it's such good piano-pop music, Swift is one of those artists I can rely on to make a good mixtape into a great one.

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Whitman

Mister Heavenly

If you're going to FYF tomorrow, which you should because for $40 it's a killer lineup make sure you check out this group Mister Heavenly, a supergroup featuring members of Man Man, Modest Mouse and Islands. Who know's maybe even their touring bassist Michael Cera (yes that one) will show up? Their debut album is a pretty solid effort and fans of Modest Mouse and Man Man will definitely relate to it.

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I Am a Hologram

Hindu Love Gods

The short-lived Hindu Love Gods project between Warren Zevon and R.E.M. minus Michael Stipe is one of those bands that even fans often forget about. When they weren't respectively touring this group of friends would occasionally take over bar shows and small clubs and play a mix of covers from classic blues to Prince. They released one studio album of covers, it sold like the opposite of hot-cakes and remains a forgotten nugget for any R.E.M or Zevon fan. I think the fact that a recording of Warren Zevon and R.E.M covering "Raspberry Beret" exists proves Murphy's Law.

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Raspberry Beret

Nick Waterhouse

Nick Waterhouse makes music that your grandparents listen to, that fun loose swingin' R&B of the 50's and early 60's. Waterhouse in addition to be one of L.A's rising stars is an accomplished producer, he is able to create such a vintage sound that he even pulled one over me when I first heard "Some Place." I thought this song was some uncovered nugget, not some new single. I am eager to follow Mr. Waterhouse's career because he certainly seems to have what it takes. Download this and get dancing.

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Some Place

Van Morrison - T.B. Sheets

I was browsing through my collection of Van Morrison records the other day and stumbled upon the oft-forgotten track "T.B. Sheets" off of his debut LP Blowin' Your Mind. This song is a sprawling nine minute blues jam with a laid back swagger to it that reminds me of David Crosby's "Cowboy Movie." However, the tone of this song is starkly contrasted by the lyrical content of "T.B. Sheets." This is a song about that awkward moment when you're next do someone's deathbed and it's time for you to go. If you read the lyrics on their own the song is actually quite depressing, a dying person begging a friend to stay with them until the end without success. Yet Morrison hides this painful image behind a relaxed bluesy rock tune which makes it easier to handle. It's a brilliant song and if it weren't nine minutes long I could see "T.B. Sheets" be considered one of Van Morrison's many classics.

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T.B. Sheets

Future Islands

Future Islands from Baltimore have a very distinct sound, a mix of Post-Wave meets Tom Waits due to the singer's uniquely garbled voice. I don't know enough about these guys as I'd like to, but they are definitely on my list of albums to pick up. If you're in Los Angeles and are going to the FYF festival next week get there early and check these guys out.

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Balance