Music Monday: Current obsessions

Artist: Liza Anne
Album: The Colder Months (listen here on SoundCloud)
Why I love it: It consists of heartbreakingly honest & smart lyrics, plus she has a beautiful, pure voice.
Favorite song(s): 1,000 years & Lying
For fans of: Lily & Madeleine, Savannah Smith

Artist: Jared & the Mill

Album: Western Expansion (listen here on SoundCloud)

Why I love it: It's toe-tappin Americana at its finest.

Favorite song(s): Breathe me in, Just for now

For fans of: Pigpen Theatre Co., Mumford & Sons 

Artist: Grey Reverend 

Album: A Hero's Lie (listen here on Spotify)

Why I love it: It makes my heart melt. every. single. time. 

Favorite song(s): This way, My hands 

For fans of: Amos Lee, Ruston Kelly

Artist: Seasick Mama 

Album: Tip Top Shape (listen here on SoundCloud)

Why I love it: It's fun and dancey with an occasional awesome 80s vibe. 

Favorite song(s): Tees & Jeans, Holy Smokes

For fans of: Tennis, Gwen Stefani

Artist: Lord Huron

Album: Lonesome Dreams (listen here on SoundCloud)

Why I love it: It's pretty dreamy and magical. 

Favorite song(s): Ends of the earth, The ghost on the shore

For fans of: Band of Horses, Milo Greene, Fleet Foxes

Music Monday: Current obsessions

Artist: PigPen Theatre Co.
Album: The Way I'm Running (listen here on Bandcamp)
Why I love it: There's a solid mix of super fun, upbeat songs and slower pieces—all with lots of gorgeous harmonies.
Favorite song(s): Sailor
For fans of: Seryn, Mumford & Sons
Bonus: I can't believe it, but these guys are coming to Bham on March 19th to Workplay!

Artist: Smallpools

Album: Smallpools EP (listen here on SoundCloud) 

Why I love it: It's an instant mood-lifter.

Favorite song(s): Dreaming, Over & Over

For fans of: Phoenix, Matt & Kim

Artist: Zachary Cale

Album: Blue Rider (listen here on Bandcamp)

Why I love it: His voice is so unique, he reminds me of a modern day Bob Dylan. Yes I just said that. 

Favorite song(s): Blood Rushes On, Wayward Son

For fans of: Bob Dylan, John Fahey

Artist: Bear's Den

Album: Agape (listen here on Paste)

Why I love it: The music on this album is powerful in a quiet kind of way—much like how I interpret the name of the band. It's also really beautiful music with really beautiful lyrics.

Favorite song(s): Agape, Isaac

For fans of: Mumford & Sons, Glen Hansard

Artist: Softly Dear

Album: Portico (listen here on Bandcamp)

Why I love it: It's mellow and chill, primarily in a spacey/breathy kind of way. There are also lots of crescendos and tempo changes that I'm a big fan of. 

Favorite song(s): Know My Name, Lenses

For fans of: Explosions in the Sky, Sigur Ros

Music Monday: Current obsessions

Artist: Wild Child
Album: The Runaround (listen here on their website)
Why I love it: It's upbeat and just a little bit quirky.
Favorite song(s): Crazy Bird, Stitches
For fans of: The Oh Hello's, The Weepies

Artist: Song Preservation Society 

Album: Ready Room (listen here on Bandcamp)

Why I love it: I feel like it completely lives up to the name of their band. If that makes any sense at all?

Favorite song(s): Love Me Like She Did

For fans of: Great Peacock, M. Ward

Artist: Carolina Story

Album: Chapter One EP (listen here on Amazon)

Why I love it: I will always love Ben & Emily's harmony and song writing abilities. Listen to their music and you will feel what they feel. 

Favorite song(s): Even When the Road Gets Hard, Slippin' Away

For fans of: The Civil Wars, Shovels & Rope 

Artist: Dear Georgiana

Album: Dear Georgiana (listen here on Bandcamp)

Why I love it: It's super dreamy.

Favorite song(s): Wait for Me, Over You

For fans of: Nora Jones, Tennis

Artist: Red Tail Ring

Album: The Heart's Swift Foot (listen on Spotify)

Why I love it: It's a singer/songwriter kind of sound with banjo pickin. It's beautiful. 

Favorite song(s): A Clearing in the Wind

For fans of: Alison Krauss & Union Station, Sarah Jarosz

Music Monday: Current obsessions

Artist: Rue Royale
Album: Changed My Grip (listen on Suncloud)
Why I love it: It's super chill, peaceful and mellow and just oh so pretty.
Favorite song(s): Shouldn't Have Closed My Eyes, Try as They Might
For fans of: Ivan & Alyosha, Greg Laswell

Artist: Lorde

Album: Pure Heroine (listen on Spotify) 

Why I love it: It sounds so different to anything else out there right now. 

Favorite song(s): Royals, Ribs, White Teeth Teens 

For fans of: Youngblood Hawke, Kitten

Artist: Alpha Rev

Album: Bloom (listen on Spotify) 

Why I love it: I can't quite put my finger on it. It's catchy enough to be maintstream, but it's not overly produced or cheesy. I guess it has the quality of band like Coldplay of Mumford, without actually sounding just like them. 

Favorite song(s): Sing Loud 

For fans of: Coldplay, Matt Kearney, NEEDTOBREATHE

Artist: Al Lewis

Album: Battles (listen on Spotify) 

Why I love it: It's nice easy, everyday-kind-of-listening and the lyrics are incredible. 

Favorite song(s): Battles, Make a Little Room

For fans of: Jackson Browne, James Taylor 

Artist: Screen Door Porch

Album: The Fate & the Fruit (listen on Bandcamp) 

Why I love it: It's a different take on Americana. Kind of sultry, kind of rock, kind of pickin'. I kind of dig it. 

Favorite song(s): Devil's Honey, Lovin' Strange

For fans of: Shovels & Rope, Bonnie "Prince" Billy & Dawn McCarthy

Music Monday: Current obsessions

Artist: Joshua Radin
Album: Wax Wings (listen on Spotify)
Why I love it: It sounds just similar enough to all the other Joshua Radin albums that I love. And trust me, that is a compliment.
Favorite song(s): My my baby
For fans of: Joshua Radin, Matt Wertz,
Peter Bradley Adams
Bonus: You can see Joshua Radin at Workplay in B'ham on Oct. 15th.

Artist: Cowboy Indian Bear

Album: Live Old, Die Young (listen on their website)

Why I love it: They have a very unique sound.
Kind of like mixing folk with some good old fashioned ambient pop. 

Favorite song(s): Washing, Seventeen, Let it Down

For fans of: Seryn, Gotye, Peter Gabriel 

Artist: Young Readers

Album: Family Trees (listen on bandcamp)

Why I love it: It's my favorite blend of mellow melancholy.

Favorite song(s): All I have

For fans of: A.A. Bondy, The Felice Brothers

Artist: Count This Penny

Album: Pitchman (listen on Spotify)

Why I love it: It's lovely and peaceful and has great female/male harmonies. Oh and I forgot to mention a little bit of pickin', too. 

Favorite song(s): Roll Up Your Sleeves,
Big Tall Pines

For fans of: The Lone Bellow, Carolina Story

Artist: Courtney Jaye

Album: The Exotic Sounds of Courtney Jaye
(listen on Spotify)

Why I love it: It's a little bit country, a little bit island-y and maybe even a teensy bit 60s pop.

Favorite song(s): Need Love, Tiger's Eye

For fans of: Brandi Carlile, Juliana Hatfield,
She & Him

Bonus: You can catch Courtney Jaye at the
Cask & Drum music festival in B'ham on Oct. 12th. 

Music Monday: Current obsessions

Artist: Leftover Cuties
Album: The Spark and the Fire (listen on Spotify)
Why I love it: It's like a combination of Nora Jones' sultry jazz voice combined with a big band sound.
Favorite song(s): Thick and Thin, One Heart
For fans of: Nora Jones, April Smith and the Great Picture Show

Artist: Gregory Alan Isakov
Album: The Weatherman (listen on Spotify)
Why I love it: It's so mellow it will make you melt. Plus this man can do no wrong in my opinion.
Favorite song(s): All Shades of Blue and Living Proof
For fans of: Peter Bradley Adams, Joe Purdy
Bonus: If you're local, he's coming to Workplay on 9/30. I'll see you there!

Artist: The Revivalists
Album: City of Sound (listen here)
Why I love it: It makes me think of a re-invented, funkier Dave Matthews Band. I really dig the saxophones and horns.
Favorite song(s): When I'm Able and Criminal
For fans of: Vintage Trouble, Amasa Hines

Artist: La Guerre
Album: Violent (listen on Spotify)
Why I love it: It's dream pop at its finest.
Favorite song(s): Lovers Sway
For fans of: A Fine Frenzy, Of Monsters and Men

Artist: Colossal Gospel
Album: Circles (listen on Spotify)
Why I love it: There's a great vintage quality to their sound. I think it has a lot to do with the lead singer's powdery soft voice.
Favorite song(s): Leaving
For fans of: Beirut, Josh Garrels

Music Monday: Current obsessions

Artist: The Olms

Album: The Olms (listen here on Grooveshark)

Why I love it: It sounds like it came straight 

out of the 1970s. 

Favorite song(s): On the Line, Twice as Nice

For fans of: The Beatles, The Beach Boys

Artist: Hey Marseilles

Album: Lines We Trace (listen on spotify)

Why I love it: It sounds like something you 

would hear under a magical 'big top' tent. 

Yes, that sounds crazy, but just go with me on it. 

Favorite song(s): Tides, Dead of Night

For fans of: The Decemberists, Ivan & Alyosha

Artist: Johnnyswim

Album: Heart Beats (listen here)

Why I love it: It's like singer songwriter meets
sing-songy folksy band with a little bit of pop mixed
in. It's a beautiful, powerful blend.

Favorite song(s): Don't Let It Get You Down

For fans of: Florence & the Machine, Adele,
Of Monsters & Men

Artist: Pokey LaFarge

Album: Pokey LaFarge (listen on spotify)

Why I love it: It sends me back in time.
Like way back. Like Ali and Noah on
The Notebook way back. And you know
that's a great place to be. 

Favorite song(s): Won'tcha Please Don't Do It

For fans of: Justin Townes Earle,
Hank Williams, Sr. 

 Artist: Hope for agoldensummer

Album: Life Inside Body (listen on spotify)

Why I love it: I can't seem to get enough of
sisterly harmonies these days. 

Favorite song(s): Daniel Bloom

For fans of: Lily & Madeleine, The Secret Sisters

Music Monday: Current obsessions

Artist: Har Mar Superstar
Album: Bye Bye 17 (listen here on Grooveshark)
Why I love it: It's a funky good mix of pop and soul.
Favorite song(s): Lady You Shot Me
For fans of: Eric Hutchinson,
St. Paul & the Broken Bones

Artist: Aunt Martha

Album: Norway, ME (listen on Spotify) 

Why I love it: It's the melodic and mellow kind 

of music I first fell in love with.  

Favorite song(s): Blue Buildings

For fans of: Beta Radio, Hudson Taylor

Artist: Nikki Lane

Album: Walk of Shame (listen here on Grooveshark) 

Why I love it: It's old school female country sprinkled with a dark edginess. 

Favorite song(s): Gone, Gone, Gone and Look Away

For fans of: Cary Ann Hearst, Loretta Lynn

Artist: Lily & Madeleine

Album: Weight of the Globe 

(listen here on bandcamp) 

Why I love it: Their voices are absolutely mesmorizing and the lyrics will break your heart. 

Favorite song(s): Back to the River and 

In the Middle 

For fans of: Von Grey, Julie Miller 

Bonus: Their version of 'Sea of Love' on their Daytrotter session is the most beautiful thing I've 

ever heard. 

Artist: The Dwells

Album: Don't Ever Leave Me Like You Do (listen here on their website)

Why I love it: I dig their twangy harmonies.

Favorite song(s): Georgia

For fans of: Spirit Family Reunion, Gram Parsons 

Music Monday: Current Obsessions

Artist:  Wake Owl
Album: Wild Country EP (listen to a sample here. Full EP is on Spotify)
Why I love it: It's just pretty and peaceful. Plus these kids know how to build a song and use a good crescendo.
Favorite song(s): Wild Country, Gold
For fans of: Milo Greene, JBM

Artist:  Rayland Baxter

Album: Feathers & Fish Hooks

Why I love it: He writes the most beautiful descriptive songs.

Favorite song(s): Olivia, Good Friend

For fans of: John Mayer's latest album, Dawes

Artist:  Justin Timberlake

Album: The 20/20 Experience (Full album is on Spotify)

Why I love it: Um, we've been waiting years for this. Does it really need an explanation?

Favorite song(s): Don't Hold the Wall

For fans of: I mean, really?

Artist:  Great Peacock

Album: Great Peacock EP (Full EP is on Spotify)

Why I love it: Beautiful harmonies these boys are doing. 

Favorite song(s): Take Me to the Mountain

For fans of: The Lone Bellow 

Artist:  Delta Saints

Album: Death Letter Jubilee

Why I love it: It's nitty gritty soulful good stuff.

Favorite song(s): Liar, Sing to Me

For fans of: Vintage Trouble